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Chapter Text

Lena Kieran Luthor wasn't a sloppy person.

She wasn't unstructured, or forgetful, and she certainly wasn't unprofessional.

From the moment she was taken in by the Luthor family, mere 4 years old and recently traumatised, manners had been drilled into her small body. Lena had learned quickly that her new family had two principles: be perfect, and never let anyone know when you fail. Her adoptive mother Lilian despised her from the moment she arrived, her watchful eyes never leaving throughout Lena's entire childhood. With her dedication and pressure, Lena learned Latin, Spanish and French before she turned 10 years old.

Lena was sent off to Mount Helena Boarding School when she was 11, the haunting letters from Lilian driving her to advance to fluent knowledge of Mandarin, Japanese and Russian, as well as mastering the arts of chess, fencing and etiquette. With the dawning claws of an extraordinary family heritage looming over her, Lena was pushed to become her greatest self. She had graduated at sixteen, obtained a Doctorate in Engineering at MIT at 19 years old and followed to complete degrees in Informations Systems and Computer Science by the age of 24.

All the more did it come as a surprise to Lena Luthor when only two years later, her adoptive brother Lex was revealed to be a master criminal, his crimes ranging from corporate corruptions over the destruction of ecosystems for monetary gain to straight up mass murder. Lilian, to no surprise, stood to defend him in court, outraged when she found her adoptive daughter holding testimony against him. After Lex was sentenced to life in prison, Lena was offered the position as CEO of the family's company LuthorCorp and accepted it with the intention to turn his legacy around and his fortunes into good, innocuous investments.

She was a businesswoman, a philanthropist and a billionaire. She was the most influential woman in National City, had ensured the atoning of Lex's crimes on all possible levels, and was continuously donating to charity and funding young, disabled or poor people. She had turned her company L-Corp into a symbol of hope, innovation and progress.

Lena Kieran Luthor was a mastermind—put together, rational and unwavering—and a feminist icon.

And—

She had fallen asleep on her desk.

Again.

"Don't you think that maybe, it's time to give your mind a little rest?" Sam's voice was gentle, an attempt at soothing something over that the woman knew was a dead end question.

"I can't," Lena sighed, swirling her glass of red wine. "You know I can't."

Sam huffed at the other end of the line. The static from the phone smoothed the silence into a lull. Lena was tired.

The last time she had slept more than 5 hours in a row had been weeks ago. And admittedly, it was her own fault. But a company didn't run itself, and an empire like L-Corp wouldn't last a week before the stocks fell. Lena had always enjoyed working, the undying focus and her clear mind all too addicting. When she was working, she felt useful. Needed. Like she was actually doing something good, despite all the things people said about her.

Or maybe, because of them.

Either way, work was Lena's solace. Her peace was there, in her grey and white office, a broad bland designer desk placed as the centerpiece and only the company of a leather couch, two automated coffee machines and a picture of her and her best friend surrounding her. She easily worked through 18 hours of documents, emails and contracts without so much as a lunch break. Were it not for her brilliant assistant Jess, Lena would have easily starved to death by now. 

And yet, with all her achievements and breakthroughs in technical engineering, something was missing. 

And Lena couldn't for the life of her fathom what it was.

"I think you could trust your coworkers a little more in their expertise and let go, Lena." Sam's voice was still soft, slightly muffled by what Lena assumed could only be the numerous cushions on Sam's couch. Her best friend had the wonderful ability to bring Lena to her senses, even in the most unwanted situations. 

"It's not the lack of trust, Sam. You know I trust you and Jess," Lena corrected. 

Sam huffed again. "Then what is it?"

"I can't just leave. Where would I even go?" Lena laughed at the irony. "My life is here, in National City. Leading my company."

"...Fixing the mistakes your criminal adoptive brother inflicted on the world." Sam finished, not missing a beat. "That's not a life, Lena. That's a sacrifice for atonement." 

"I—" Lena protested, but Sam didn't waver.

"And I get it. Honey, I know how you feel. But you are not your brother's puppet, and your legacy isn't to repair his. Your life is worth more than that. And you have done enough, Lena." Sam halted, sighing. "You have done so much. Things are okay now, you're not 'the Luthor' anymore."

Lena scoffed at that, a bitter taste on her tongue. She raised her glass, lips pursed in disgust, "I will always be 'the Luthor', Sam."

Sam rustled on the other side of the phone before her voice rang clear and soothing again. "Lena Luthor, the billionaire businesswoman, yes," she agreed. "Not criminal Lex Luthor's scum sister." 

"Master criminal," Lena corrected, sipping her wine. "He worked hard for that title."

The sound Sam made could almost be considered a laugh, and Lena's lips curled upwards with it. Talking about Lex was easier to endure when humour was involved.

"Give yourself a break, honey." Sam's voice was oozing out the speaker. "Take the summer. A few months. Get out of here and live."

Lena scoffed. "A few months? You're insane."

"I can handle your empire, Lena. I've been working by your side for 3 years now, involved in every contract and decision you made. If there's anything going on, I will let you know. And when you come back, you can get settled back down in your fancy office and throw yourself right back into it." 

Lena knew she could trust Sam. She knew that Sam was more than capable of keeping L-Corp on track and steady. Instead she asked, "What will the press say?"

"We'll inform them that you're on an extended business trip in Europe, forging contracts with future business partners. They swallow that shit like drugs."

"Language," Lena warned, "you have a daughter."

Sam just laughed. "I mean it, Lena. Take some time. Find something to take some steam off."

It had been merely a week since their call when Sam reached out with news on the matter. An email, the subject reading 'Lena Luthor lets some steam off'. Lena couldn't help but smile.

Sam had sent her a various links to activities and summer stay opportunities like simple holiday houses on the east coast, a two month hiking tour in the Alps between old wooden huts, a luxury safari tour in west Botswana, house sitting in Kagoshima, Japan, an ocean wildlife restoration project in Australia, a house boat rental service in Norway, a farm workaway in Ireland–

Lena halted. 

Her fingers curled over the mouse wheel, the link appearing back on her screen. 

Ireland. A farm. 

Her mother was born and raised there. Her real mother.

Later, Lena finished work well past midnight, she stepped through her front door, set her bag down on the kitchen island and walked over to her bedside table. She slid open the top drawer and pulled out the only thing in her possession that remained from her mother.

A necklace, its core an obsidian shaped into a gaelic rune, held by dark worn leather. 

A gift to Lena. A sign of her heritage—or maybe a lead all along?

Lena felt weird, rubbing her thumb over the smooth cold stone, trying to grasp the memories that had once been so vivid. 

Maybe Sam was right. 

Maybe she needed a break, and a few months outside of this city. A few months where she could be Lena—the version of herself that existed before her mother died. The version that she thought she'd never find again. 

Two weeks and three long conversations with both Sam and her assistant Jess later, Lena Luthor was sat on a flight across the Atlantic Ocean. 

She had only reluctantly agreed to the absurd idea of staying on a farm with a total stranger for several months. But when she opened the link and messaged the woman that had offered the position, she was presented with an invitation right away—and no excuses to bail. 

The profile had looked clean, backed up by a legit address, pictures of the land, the stables and a few horses and goats. The last picture had shown a dog, a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback in a fluffy dog bed, mid-chew on a chewing bone.

The woman had been kind and straightforward in her texts, inviting Lena in and asking no further questions on her back story or her last name. To Lena, that felt a little odd, very unsafe and simply irrational, but she would take it. The more low profile she could be, the better. 

No one needed to know a billionaire was coming to shovel shit. 

When she had been packing with two nights to spare, her wardrobe kindly reminded her how often she was actually going out to do farm work, or any kind of physical activities besides her Friday yoga. Which was—unsurprisingly—not at all. 

So annoyed, and slightly embarrassed, Lena had gone shopping. And she had gone in the men's section, at Sam's request, and bought a few pairs of simple trousers and loose fitted shirts and jumpers. She hadn't particularly liked the looks of them, and trying them on felt odd—like she was transforming into a different person—but she had bought them anyway and neatly folded them into her suitcase, next to her designer clothes, laptop, and toiletries. 

"A coffee, Miss?" The flight attendant had looked at Lena, a polite smile on his face and a tray atop his hand. "Snacks and drinks are free in business class, Miss."

Lena had shaken her head, flashing him a tight smile and moving her privacy screen up when he had turned. She hadn't felt thirsty, and most definitely not for lukewarm filter coffee. Her experience with flight snacks had been similarly disappointing. 

While it wasn't her first transatlantic, it certainly knocked her out just as much, and Lena was absolutely knackered by the time she fell into her soft white linen hotel bed. Luckily, the airline hadn't misplaced her luggage or delayed the arrival unnecessarily, and so while it was only 5 pm in Dublin, Lena drifted into sweet dreams behind closed curtains.

She woke—much to her dismay—at 4 am. Groaning, Lena rolled over in the king sized bed, one of a quality that she knew she wouldn't get to indulge for at least a few months. Her back was going to kill her. 

Not dwelling too much on the rising sentiment, she got up, slipped into an oversized sweater—one of those she had bought only a few days prior—and made her way over to the small countertop that was home to the hotel room's kettle and coffee machine.

While the machine was whirring, black drops of steaming liquid squeezed out under its strain, Lena checked her phone. There were a few messages from Sam, mostly her wishing Lena a good flight and then, about 7 hours later, a good night, but nothing special. Her email inbox was quiet too. 

Yet.

Lena knew it wouldn't take three days before different departments of her company would reach out to her for further details on her trip, even though she had held a meeting regarding her upcoming absence at the end of the last week. 

When Lena collected her mug of coffee from the machine, its lifeless body coming to a stop with one last groan, she drew open the curtains to the city before her. From the windows, she had a neat view over most of the rooftops, the sky only barely painted with the suspense of dawn.

Lena liked this—waking before the city, drinking coffee until she couldn't physically close her eyes anymore, and waiting for her body to slowly drift into work mode. She would get some projects done before going out for breakfast at a normal time. 

The train was perfectly punctual.

Lena wasn't.

Rushing through the ticket gates before the platform, her heavy suitcase held tightly in a white knuckled grip of fear, Lena instantly regretted putting on her favourite pair of stilettos. 

A young man in uniform flashed her a smile, asking, "Are you meaning to take the train to Galway?" 

Lena nodded, lips tight.

The man grimaced, and she could only watch in dismay as he lifted his arm, his finger unmistakably pointing at the short train at the very end of the platform. "It takes off in 2 minutes. Do you need help with your luggage?", he offered, his polite smile now smelling of pity. 

"No, thank you," she declined courteously. 

And then she ran.

Despite her early terror, Lena enjoyed the ride a lot. She watched the grey outskirts of the city fade into endless green. Trees, fields and bushes as far as she could see. The sky was painted a soft blue, a few clouds hovering over an ocean of life. 

Truly, in all her life, Lena had never seen so much green, and so many shades of it. She understood now, the reason why this place was often referred to as Emerald Isle. 

Flat lands were exchanged by soft hills, and then suddenly proper mountains, the train entering three tunnels before they slowly faded back into an even horizon. She spotted a few houses every now and then, and sometimes the train passed through a small town without stopping. Cows were everywhere, but also sheep. Occasionally, there were fields with goats and horses, and Lena even got a glance at a deer before it jumped away into the bushes. Hours passed, and Lena was slumped in her seat, headphones in and soft tunes humming through her head as she simply watched. 

She only noticed that the train was pulling up to its final destination when the elderly woman opposite her slowly collected her things and climbed out of her seat. 

Galway's station was small, and as she got off the train Lena decided to follow the masses to the exit first. The woman she was meeting—Kara, if Lena remembered right—had offered to pick her up from Galway, despite her farm being further south. A kind gesture, Lena thought.

When Lena had made it out of the station, her belongings still with her, she pulled out her phone. Following the link back to the website, she opened the last message that the woman had sent. A phone number, and the request to text when she had arrived.

Reluctantly Lena tapped the number and opened a new contact. Then, she pulled up her messenger and gave her host a heads up. 

Putting her phone away, Lena stretched out and took a look around. The streets weren't empty, but there was no rush to anyone's step either. A sign led her around a corner down a street that looked promisingly like the city centre. Lena had her foot halfway in the door of the first pub, hanging buckets of colourful flowers adorning its facade, when her phone chimed happily. 

Kara(?): Very nice! I'm parked in the lot by the river, a mere 2 minutes walk from the station. Should I pick you up or are you coming over?

Lena sighed. No drinks, then. Yet.

The parking lot was truly not hard to find. Lena had saved herself the embarrassment of getting picked up like a toddler from the first possible point, instead walking down to the river and attempting not to break both ankles in the cobblestone road. 

When she finally looked up again, the pavement under her feet now smooth and steady, she immediately spotted a broad, blonde woman with a flashing smile. 

At first glance, Lena thought she was mistaken, that the woman was simply looking at someone behind her. But the closer she came, the clearer it became—the woman was grinning at her. 

Lena was a bit blinded by the mere force of her smile, a toothy, carefree one that she hadn't quite seen since middle school. So much so that when she stopped at an appropriate distance for strangers, her eyes were challenged taking the woman in all at once.

"Hi, I'm Kara," Kara offered, and with it an outstretched hand. 

A hand that was, mildly put, a sturdy body with long, calloused fingers, unmistakably strong in its grip when it embraced Lena's. Despite the sheer power below the skin, Kara's grip was gentle and careful, her touch light. 

Lena's eyes traced the slightly exposed veins on its back up her defined forearm, her gaze clinging along the maroon flannel shirt Kara had rolled up to her elbows, the way it was stretched and pulled by broad shoulders and a strong neck. 

When Kara retracted her hand, Lena shifted to look at her face. There was still a smile on her pink lips, but it had shifted into an almost sheepish expression, bright blue eyes staring back at her. 

Only then did it occur to Lena that at least a few seconds had passed, and she still hadn't answered. "I'm Lena Lu—" A beat, in which Lena desperately attempted to pull herself together while Kara patiently waited. "Just Lena."

Kara's smile came back in full force. "Okay, 'just Lena'. Shall we get that treasure of yours loaded?" 

The woman winked as she fished her car keys out of her trousers and unlocked the light grey Škoda Karoq she had been leaning on, clearly not bothered in the slightest that she wouldn't get to know Lena's last name. Kara opened the boot, moved a small foldable box to the side and smoothed out the plane that spread over the boots bottom. 

Lena reached for her suitcase, attempting to lift it, but then there was a touch to her forearm, gently fingers pulling her away. "Let me, I got it." 

So Lena could only watch as Kara lifted her suitcase—at least a 30kg monster—with an ease that resembled picking up a pillow. 

And suddenly, very unexpectedly, her mind tipped into long buried desires. Heat pooled into her stomach at the sight, a spark flickering in her chest, unwanted and inappropriate. Lena bit the inside of her cheek, gulping and forcing her gaze towards the trickling water flowing in the riverbed behind the cars. 

She wouldn't start this summer of self discovery with a stupid crush. She wouldn't.

"Alright, all set. Are you ready to hop in?" Kara had resurfaced, and her smile with it. Or maybe it had never left. 

Lena nodded, her lips curling upwards involuntarily, a slight flush to her cheeks.

Kara's car was clean, well scented and spotless. The engine purred as the blonde woman manoeuvred them out of the parking space and down the roads to the city's outskirts. The windows were slightly opened, fresh air drifting through the cracks. 

The temperature was quite low for May, but Lena learned quickly from Kara that it was one of the warmer, better days of the month. Rain, as it seemed, was the recipe to the Island's charm: endless water supplies kept the plants growing and the flowers blooming—and the population in their raincoats. 

Kara laughed about it though, the sound of it like a warm hug. She didn't mind the rain, or the clouds, she told Lena. 

While they made their way down the country lanes, the car rolling smoothly over clean pavement, Kara was mostly telling Lena which roads led to beautiful ruins, long beaches and amazing views—and which towns had the best shops and the cutest restaurants. 

And Lena let it happen, her body slowly slumping into the soft fabric of the car seat. Kara's voice was soothing, laced with smiles and excitement, the perfect sound to relax to. Lena was exhausted, and it was her own fault for getting up so early in the morning. 

But Kara didn't seem to mind, her gaze finding Lena's at every stop sign and street light, checking in. "We'll be there soon," she promised softly, "then you can rest."

When the car finally slowed down, the wheels turning into what could only be a driveway, Lena sat up in her seat. 

The thin, paved road ahead was winding up a hill, fields to the left and right. Trees were splattered across, and a sturdy wooden fence surrounded the area. 

They rolled up the long driveway to a truly stunning cottage style house, placed right atop the hill. The light grey stone walls hugged the house all round, reaching up to the second floor where they merged into a gable roof. The roof was laid with metal tiles, solar panels installed on the side facing the driveway. All window frames, doors and the pillars holding the small roof of the short porch were painted in a stunning dark green, a satisfying contrast to the light stone. 

Lena drew in a breath, her mouth hanging open helplessly. Kara chuckled beside her. "Do you like it?" she asked sheepishly.

"Kara, it's gorgeous," Lena breathed, and at the blinding smile that made Kara's eyes sparkle like stars, she almost added a thoughtless like you.

"I am quite proud of it," she admitted as she pulled a remote key out of the cupholder between them, opening the rising gate to the garage hugging the left of the house, the colour scheme the same on it. 

Once inside, Kara turned off the engine and jumped excitedly out of the car. Lena scrambled out of her seat, rounding the sleek beast to its trunk, and was beaten by Kara, her suitcase already in those strong arms. Kara huffed slightly as she set it down, the only indicator that it didn't weigh as much as a songbird.

"There," Kara grinned, her blue eyes sparkling in the lower light of the garage. "Follow me." And then she sauntered off, ducking unnecessarily under the still open garage gate. 

Lena could only rush to follow, a red flannel her beacon in the unfamiliar waters.

"Technically, there is a door from the garage into the house, for the shitty weather days," Kara said, having slowed down to a walk, approaching the front door, "but I just love coming in through here." She stepped under the porch roof with Lena close by. Kara closed the garage door with the remote and let it slip into her trouser pocket. The doorbell sign read 'Danvers'. "It's a totally different vibe."

Kara was right. It was a totally different vibe. 

Walking through the entrance door, Lena found herself in somewhat of a foyer. Not big, but spacious enough for a shoe closet, a shelf and a wide coat hanger, rain and weather coats splattered across it. She slipped out of her stilettos—gladly—and was instantly a few centimetres shorter—not so gladly.

Kara led them through a double door into the hallway, a winding staircase as the centrepiece of the space. Doors led left and right and a corridor reached down the left. It was instantly clear that the colour scheme continued inside the walls, all doors and doorframes painted in a dark green, the walls remaining a soft white.

And right there, by the bottom step of the stairs, was a fluffy grey dog bed with a beautiful Ridgeback rolled up inside. The dog looked up as they came in, its tail wagging as it stepped up to Kara. The woman leaned down, her golden hair flowing off her shoulders as she greeted the dog. 

"Hello my baby, who is my beautiful girl? Hm?" She scratched the dog's head as it started curling and stomping happily before her. "Yes, you are. You're my good girl. My beautiful baby."

The dog. She is talking to the goddamn dog, Lena. You're not that sex deprived.

Lena breathed, straightening and letting the scene unfold. After a moment, Kara stopped touching the dog and turned to her. "Lena, this is Maya. She's my roommate and she will be your personal cuddle supplier for the next few months. I hope you're not allergic," Kara winked, and Lena could feel the way her cheeks warmed a tinge. 

"I'm not, don't worry," she assured, her eyes finding Maya. "She is beautiful."

"She knows." Kara grinned, giving the dog another pet. Then she turned back to Lena. "Alright, the bedrooms are upstairs, and so is the kitchen and living area." Kara gestured lazily to the ceiling. "I prefer it that way, the view is just so worth it."

Lena nodded, familiar with the choice of design. Two of her summer houses had the same layout.

"Down here is my office, a guest bathroom, a workshop, straight ahead will lead you to the back door and these beautiful doors on the right lead to what I like to call the rotting room—" her eyes widened comically, "—not because it's moldy, I promise it's as clean as any other, I just—" she scrambled, an adorable flush creeping up her neck and spreading on her cheeks, "I like to rot away in it, doing stuff that I enjoy, and when I have guests I usually spend my time with them there, and I—"

"It's okay, Kara," Lena soothed, her hand unthinkingly finding Kara's forearm and pressing against the firm muscle there. "I know what you mean."

Kara's fearful expression smoothed into a relieved grin, "Oh, good. That would've been quite weird otherwise."

Lena offered a genuine smile at that, giving the arm a last squeeze before letting go. 

"Alright, so I better show you your room and then you can get settled in." 

Kara led them up the staircase—of course only after stealing Lena's suitcase from her and picking it up effortlessly—and down a hallway to the left side of the house. 

She pointed at a door to the right, "This is me. If you need anything just give it a knock or call my name and I'll be there." She continued a few steps further, stopping in front of a door to the right. "And this is you. You have a view of the backyard and the stables, lucky you. There's a bathroom behind the other door, feel free to use it, it's all yours." 

Kara finally let go of Lena's suitcase, rolling it towards her with an effortless grin. "If there's anything else that's not quite right, just give me a text. I'll go and feed the animals soon so I won't be in the house, but I'll be back later to make us dinner." 

At the sound of food Lena's stomach comically grumbled, and she groaned at it. Kara just laughed. "Someone can't wait, I hear," she smirked, winking. Then she brushed past Lena, twirled and disappeared down the corridor. 

Lena sighed, grabbing her suitcase and pushing open the dark green door into her new habitat for the upcoming months. 

And she was happily surprised. 

The room had windows both to the garage's side of the house as well as the back, the view was truly stunning. A clean, modern bed hugged the corner to her left, a dresser was placed under the windows in the corner opposite, and a desk with an office chair stood below the window ahead. The door on the left wall was surely where Lena's ensuite was hiding, and a broad wardrobe towered over her from behind the door. 

It was spacious, simple, and clean. 

Lena got to work unloading her suitcase.

The remaining evening went by quite calmly. Lena had gotten to writing two emails before Kara's text let her phone chime happily. Dinner was ready.

And Lena was not disappointed. 

Despite the quite messy look of the kitchen, Kara was wearing a bright smile, and the room smelled fantastic. It was only a simple pasta and sauce recipe, some vegetables stirred within, but the warm food unfolded just the same as a fancy meal on Lena's tongue, the flavours seeping into every vessel of her body.

She couldn't help but hum contently, drawing a chuckle from Kara. "I hope that means you like it, then?"

"Definitely," Lena assured her, a smile flashing in her eyes. 

Once they finished, Lena collecting the dishes to start washing up, Kara's touch found her shoulder in a gentle grip. "Oh, no, no, no. You will not be cleaning my mess."

"But—" Lena protested, but Kara didn't let her finish.

"No buts. Get some rest, tomorrow will be rough. The first days are always the worst. I'll take care of this," Kara assured, nodding encouragingly.

An image of Sam played itself in Lena's mind, in the way she would force Lena to rest just the same, and look at her through the entire process with that same unyielding kindness and care. 

Her chest tugged painfully at the thought, the simple reminder of her favourite person being so far away. Lena had to text her still, let Sam know she was safe, and cared for. Maybe she would mention how nice Kara was, how bright her smile was, and how it made Lena feel strange things. 

Maybe.

Lena was woken at 8:30 am by a knock to her door. 

Confused, slightly disoriented and still very much in her nightgown, she opened the door. 

Kara stood right there, eyes glinting and her blonde waves up in a messy knot. She was fully dressed, rocking a flannel, this time light blue, and right jeans that hugged curves Lena hadn't spotted the day before—and surely wouldn't ever miss again. 

And Kara was flushing furiously, her gaze fallen helplessly to the cleavage that this gown, despite its comfort, sadly revealed to the world. Lena usually didn't mind it as much, it wasn't like she ever had people in her house long enough to slip into a nightgown for them to see, but now she felt incredibly rude, standing so revealingly in front of her host and making her visibly uncomfortable.

But then Kara's eyes flicked up, fluttering between hers in a state of—Was that interest? Lena knew the signs for discomfort, and Kara wasn't showing them, so the half-baked apology she was going to sputter out into the tension between them turned into a smirk on her lips. 

"Good morning," Lena cooed, and Kara's blush turned two shades darker.

"I—" she started, her whole arm pointed down the corridor towards the kitchen. "Breakfast. Is ready."

Lena's smirk widened, and she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sudden nerves vibrating from Kara's very aura. 

"If you want any," Kara added, defeatedly lowering her arm, her gaze flicking away.

"Sure, sounds good." She raised her arm to the edge of the door, her eyes locked on Kara and that adorable flush. "I better get dressed." 

Kara nodded. Then, after a few seconds, her eyes widened and she turned and sauntered off. 

Lena couldn't help but chuckle.

By the time Lena made it to the kitchen, Kara's flush had vanished, only a smile remaining. Lena was dressed more modestly, despite the adrenaline rush she had gotten from their earlier encounter. Kara was too much of a stranger to be unnecessarily teasing her, and Lena was still her guest. 

She didn't want things to start off tense and awkward, that would just be unpleasant for the both of them.

Lena was greeted by Maya, a wiggling and dancing furball to her feet, the moment she stepped through. She smiled, leaning down and scratching the dog in a greeting. "Hey," she whispered with a smile. Then she let her go and had a look around. 

Kara had conjured a breakfast feast, and truly too much food for two people. There were scrambled eggs, a freshly prepped caesar salad, multiple types of bread as well as various options to lay on top, cereal, yoghurt and juice. 

Lena felt her mouth water as she stepped up to the table, but truthfully her head was pounding with that familiar scream for coffee. She desperately needed a cup.

"Is something missing?" Kara eyed her from her stool across, eyebrows raised and an observant look on her face. She had filled her plate with bits of everything already, the portion bigger than what Lena usually had for breakfast and lunch together—but then again, Lena didn't really get to eating when she was working, and she was always working, so it all didn't mean much. And Lena definitely wasn't one to judge others or their food consumption, especially not someone so kind and welcoming as Kara.

"Do you, by any chance, have a coffee machine?" Lena basically begged.

Kara raised her brows even further, a smirk creeping on her face. "I may have something you'd like," she said, winking and getting up from her seat.

She walked over to the kitchen area overlooking the backyard. The whole space was one joined room, the dining table as the centrepiece dividing the living area—a corner couch and two deep armchairs set up by the windows on the right—from the sleek kitchen setup going around the corner on the right, an island into the room providing the induction stove and oven. 

Kara rumbled around the kitchen for a minute before joining Lena back at the table with a steaming mug of the familiar black void. Lena couldn't help but hum contently at the smell, her hands cradling the warm pottery like a long lost child. 

"A friend of mine enjoys a cup when he comes over, that's why I have some, but I don't drink it myself," Kara explained, a smile on her face as she watched Lena melt into the liquid she was holding like a precious gift.

"How can anyone not drink coffee for breakfast?" Lena murmured, sipping and sighing at the taste. 

Kara just laughed heartedly. "You know, a bunch of animals that love you unconditionally and a cup of tea every now and then just seem to do that to you."

It was a while later, when Kara came down the stairs into the lobby with her flannel tied around her waist, waterproof over trousers making her legs look bulky despite the tight jeans Lena knew she was wearing underneath, that Lena had a mild heart attack. 

Because truly, she was not ready.

Nothing in her strict and planned life had prepared her for Kara Danvers in a tank top.

A charcoal grey skintight tank top. 

Lena broke into a coughing fit, the air in her lungs suddenly deciding neither out nor in was its preferred choice. 

And Kara was there, immediately. She jumped down the last steps in rushed concern and in a blink there was a steady—and sturdy—hand on her shoulder and ocean blue eyes searching her gaze. 

"Okay now, you're okay," Kara soothed, and it really didn't soothe anything because now her lips were moving and with it were the muscles in her neck flexing and Lena was truly way thirstier than she had expected. "Just breathe, Lena." 

The coughing stopped, and then Lena straightened with the last of her grace, facing a slightly taller Kara and her sculptured shoulders. 

Lena tried not to stare. "Thank you," she breathed, still mortified.

"No problem," Kara winked, "now let's get going. I bet Getrude and Siglinde are starving already."

Getrude and Siglinde, as Lena learned, were the two Pygmy goats that Kara kept as living lawn mowers. Judging by the field they were on, they were quite effective. 

"Come on, Lena," Kara called from inside the fence, two goats close to her feet, "They'll want to meet you."

Lena sighed, letting her head drop on the arms she had leaned over the top bar. So apparently, she would be petting goats now. 

Cute goats, she wouldn't deny. But goats nonetheless.

She walked through the gate and up to Kara, who was beaming at her while scratching a goat—Siglinde?—behind her ear. The blonde rose as Lena stepped close, her blue eyes sparkling.

"They eat a lot of grass during the day and night, but I still feed all my animals at least twice a day. It helps them get all their nutrients and stay healthy." Kara was bending down again, now petting the other goat that had walked up close to her and sniffed on her leg. "Back when these guys were shaped by evolution, the grass had way better things in it. Nowadays, that's just not enough for them anymore. We killed all the important stuff off with our agriculture and mingling with wildlife, and the consequences are beet pulp for everyone."

Lena frowned. "What?"

"Beet Pulp." Kara said, grinning.

Lena just crossed her arms, raising her brow. 

Kara's eyes flickered at that, her throat bobbing once with a gulp. "It's the waste that is left from farming sugar beets," Kara gave in. "The horses rely on it more, but it helps my goats keep their weight steady. It's necessary to be mixed with grain though, and I have some supplements that they get mixed into their breakfast as well."

Lena hummed. "I see."

Kara pulled out two leading ropes from under her flannel and held one out for Lena to take. "Now the first challenge of today. Can you tame a goat?"

Lena actually chuckled, the laugh slipping from her involuntary, and Kara grinned at her success. "Tame? These don't look like they're much of a problem."

"Oh? Is that a challenge I hear?" Kara's grin widened, her eyes glowing. "Please, go ahead. Take either one to the gate." She stretched her arms out to sign at the goats that were grazing close by.

Lena scoffed, sauntering off towards them. But then, as she got almost close enough to reach one with her arm outstretched at ready, the goat—Gertrude?—snapped her head up, bleated and ran off, bucking over the field in a big circle. Lena rose, turning to stare at Kara, only to find her bent over laughing. 

"Hey!" Lena called, crossing her arms. "Stop laughing."

Kara raised her arms in surrender, still shaking with giggles. "Sorry," she said, clearly not sorry at all.

Lena groaned and slowly approached the other goat that was still close to her. She got almost close enough to reach the goat when it lifted its head at her. Lena leaped forward in a terrible attempt to catch the collar around its neck before it could run off, but of course, the goat was quicker. 

Lena was too mortified to turn back around to Kara. She would catch this damn goat, no matter how hard.

Luckily, it didn't run off far, and Lena immediately followed it, steadily getting closer. When she was two steps or so away, she took a deep breath, her hand around the leading rope tightening. She could do this.

Lena skipped towards the goat, and this time, she was close enough. Her fingers glided over soft fur as the goat started moving, but Lena was steadfast in her success. Her fingers curled around the collar, her feet planted into the ground, ready to hold on—and the goat jumped.

Lena was pulled out of her until then considered bomb proof stance, and dragged forward until she fell on her knees. The goat bleated again, Lena's hand still rock solid around its collar, and promptly turned back to eating grass. 

Lena was aware how utterly pathetic she must've looked, getting almost toppled over by a goat that was barely reaching her knees, but she fastened the leading rope on the collar anyway, gripping it tightly as she straightened.

When she turned, Kara was grinning, her hand around the collar of—Getrude, the traitor. Of course. "Don't." Lena warned, her glare piercing.

"I wasn't," Kara defended, raising her hands again. The grin around her lips remained.

They led the goats through the gate, and of course the damn animals let themselves be led easily like Lena hadn't just done the workout of her life to catch them, and down the footpath towards the stables. 

The building was a stone build with the same design and colour scheme as the house, placed behind the garden in the backyard. It was an L-shape form hugging the plastered courtyard in the middle, a fence surrounding it into a square. 

"One side of this building holds the boxes for the animals, while the other has space for the tack room, the shed, my workspace and a utility garage," Kara explained excitedly as she opened the gate to the courtyard.

Lena led Siglinde past her and waited for Kara to close the gate behind them. They made their way over to a big box, the sign over the door reading 'Gertrude & Siglinde family home'.

"That's adorable," Lena said, pointing at the sign as Kara pushed back the lever to open the door. 

The blonde woman grinned wide, nodding. "I know. They are my two gay lovebirds," Kara shrugged.

Lena couldn't help but smile back.

Chapter Text

Kara showed Lena how to mix the goat food in the tack room, which, to Lena's surprise, was spacious, clean and organised.

In her short time riding horses when the Luthor's were pushing her to learn any fancy sport to become extraordinary at, Lena had only ever been in cramped tack rooms with hangers messed up, dirty buckets piling in the corners and the smell of old leather and mold gathering in her very being. It may have been the reason why she stopped attending the lessons.

This tack room—Kara's tack room—had organized hangers with headcollars, leading ropes and saddles on them, a long and tall shelf with boxes, each of them labelled with their contents, a desk—which Kara called the 'food mixing station'—with all the ingredients used for the feed, a wall mounted drying rack and—

A clean sink. With a warm water tap, soap on the side and multiple brushes and cleaners on the shelf above.

Kara just shrugged when Lena said it was beautiful. "I like to keep things clean, it helps me keep my head straight."

Lena couldn't help but stare then, the woman in front of her looking so effortlessly graceful in the way she was mixing the food. Her golden hair was tied up to a loose bun, a few stray streaks having escaped its hold and dancing around Kara's face. Her nose was scrunched adorably in focus, her eyebrows knit together. Her slender neck morphed into sculptured shoulders and defined arms, working the matter with unwavering endeavour. Lena wanted to take a picture of the sight, just a woman in her element.

Kara fitted here. Right there in that clean tack room, caring for the animals she clearly loved so much. She slotted right into the moment, like a puzzle piece. Or maybe she was the moment, with her brutally detailed muscles on display, the faint hint of abs under the tight grey fabric of her top, her eyes looking at Lena like that, her pink lips pulling into that already familiar grin.

"Lena?" Kara asked, eyebrows raised. "Were you listening?"

Lena was definitely blushing. She hated the way her pale skin made it so utterly obvious the second it happened. "I—No," she admitted, but no defeat showed in her voice, "sorry, I was distracted."

Kara hummed, "That's okay. I was saying we should mix the horses' food too while we're here, then we can get them out immediately."

Kara got out more buckets and showed Lena the sheets hung up next to the desk. A clear instruction to each of the two horses' diet, mornings and evenings separated, what the goats needed to be fed, and where to find everything. A cheat sheet.

Lena was relieved to know her lack of attention to Kara's words caused by Kara's—well, everything—wouldn't be an issue, and that she didn't need to stress about remembering the tiniest detail.

Instead, she did as Kara asked and started mixing the food by recipe. Kara took the buckets for the goats and disappeared.

Once Lena was done and Kara was back, Kara signed her to follow with her index finger, pulling Lena in by an invisible hook.

Lena walked over to her, stopping closer than necessary and looking down at the bin they were cornering.

"What's this?" Lena asked, raising a brow.

Kara grinned. "The secret to taming goats." Her grin widened even more. "And to making the horses do impressive things."

Lena stared back, eyebrow raising infinitely more.

Kara pushed the lid back, her hands pointing at the contents of the bin. "Treats!" she exclaimed, her expression pure excitement.

Lena glanced between the bin of small, cylinder formed pieces and Kara's bright blue eyes. "You had me chase a goat," she roared, and Kara promptly started laughing. "Are you kidding me? Is that why Getrude followed you like a lamb?"

Kara was wheezing even more.

"That's nasty, Kara! Making me think goats hate me when you were just cheating!" Lena had crossed her arms, the annoyance swirling inside her.

Kara wiped a tear from her eyes, holding her stomach while her body was still shaking in silent laughter. "Come on, Lena," Kara said softly, eyes bright with joy, "you have to admit it was a little bit funny."

Lena grumbled, eyes narrowing.

"And honestly, I would've given you the treats, but really, you seemed like you wanted that challenge." Kara was shrugging as her gaze inspected Lena cautiously, a smile still pulling at her lips. "Like you felt the need to prove yourself."

Lena just sighed, rolling her eyes. Kara took it the wrong way though.

"Look, I'm sorry, I should've given you the treats then. But I was honestly a little impressed that you did get Siglinde on the rope without them. Even I struggle to. Those tiny beasts listen to no one except the contents of this magic chest."

Lena couldn't help but forgive her, embarrassment melted away at the stroke to her ego. She grinned a bit, and Kara's face bloomed adorably.

"Fine. Give me some of your wonder pills."

Once the goats were fed and the horse food was in their stables, Kara led Lena through the open back door of one of the boxes onto the attached field.

"I believe my horses should have the right to free roam their home as they wish. They know when breakfast and dinner is, and they know they can come and go as they please," Kara explained, her expression firm. "This is something I don't talk about often, but both of them are rescues. They haven't been treated right, by horrible people, and I'm here to give them the best life I can. I've earned their trust and respect, and they continue to give me love and support every day."

She sighed heavily, a dim look in her eyes. Then she looked up and right  at Lena with a thoroughness that tore right into Lena's chest. "I don't understand how some people can be so incredibly cruel to animals. They treat them not like living beings, but like objects of their possession. It makes my blood boil to find out about the pain they cause."

Lena could only agree, in her heart. She once watched her adoptive mother throw their house cat across the room with enough force to have it slam into the wall. Lena could never forget, and hasn't forgiven. Despite the cat surviving, something changed that day. Not just in her, but in the entire house. Lena had never looked at Lilian the same after that. "I feel the same," she said, compassion seeping from her very demeanour.

Kara nodded sadly. "I like to think my animals have it good now. They have a life of choice, and of respect." She sighed, her hand slipping into her trousers pocket and pulling out a handful of treats. "Now, let me show you how to conjure a beautiful horse."

There was less weight to her gaze then, and a soft spark of excitement.

"There are three rules to the art of horse magic," she said in playful seriousness, "One, never forget your treats. They are essential to the mission's success."

"You mean the magic's success?"

"Pshh! You're distracting me," Kara waved her free hand in Lena's direction to shush her, the severity returning to her expression. "Two, do not be the prey, be the predator. Do not fear them, do not step away. This, is essential too."

"I think everything is essential at this point," Lena grinned.

"Shush! If the horse can sense you're afraid of them—and it will sense it because horses can sense your very emotions—they will try to test this fear, and whether it can be bent into obedience. Whatever you do, do not let them scare or threaten you. I promise you one thing, Lena," and suddenly Kara was close, both her hands gripping one of Lena's, earnest eyes staring down at her, "my horses will not harm you. Ever. They know not to harm me, or anyone I bring to introduce to them. Do not let yourself be dominated."

Kara halted, eyeing their position and backing away slowly. A grin spread on her face. "Or well, at least not on the fields out here with the horses—by the horses." And then Kara winked.

Lena groaned. "Number three?" she asked impatiently, her cheeks warming slightly. Because of the goddamn sun. It was a warm day.

"Yes! Last but not least, Lena," Kara looked at her intensely then, "Ernie is a menace. Do not trust his puppy eyes. They are lying to you."

Lena grinned. "Sure, Kara, if you say so. Now, how do we get them here? We don't have to go and search your acres of land for two horses, do we?"

Kara chuckled, "Oh, no, definitely not. You just call them, like this." And with that, Kara raised her free hand to her lips, formed a perfect circle with her thumb and index finger, and slipped the edge of it between her lips.

The whistle was clean, loud and perfectly executed, and Lena felt wobbly on her knees.

There wasn't time to dwell on it though, because not 10 seconds later, faint thumping was approaching, and before she knew it, Lena was faced with two horses charging at her.

One being very big, very furry, and a beautiful caramel coat that faded into dark spots, its mane and tail black while its furry feet were white.

The other being much shorter, and a much lighter crème colour, with the same dark mane and tail and dark ankles.

Kara was grinning beside her, her hand held out with the treats.

Treats. Right. Lena scrambled the bits out of her jacket's pockets.

"Woah," Kara sounded next to her, calling out to the now trotting horses. She didn't move one bit, though.

A few more steps later both horses came to a stop in front of Kara, and the golden haired woman lifted her free arm to stroke the much bigger horse's head softly. "There, there," she murmured to it.

"So, I'm assuming that's Ernie, then?" Lena asked, gesturing towards the giant furball attached to Kara's hand.

Kara gaped at her and started straight up laughing. "Oh, no, Lena. Not at all. This beautiful giant here is Diana. The calmest and most gentle soul on the planet. Ernie The Menace is picking at your jacket right now."

And truth be told, when Lena turned her head, the crème horse—Ernie—was nibbling at her jacket, near the pocket with the treats. "Oh," she breathed, suddenly understanding what Kara had meant. And then, "Hi, buddy."

Despite Kara's initial warning, the horses let themselves be led to the stables eagerly once they had been offered their first treats, and while Lena was a tiny bit frightened by the sheer size of Diana, she didn't show it. Instead, she was holding Ernie's headcollar, leading him towards the stables and right into his box. At Kara's request, she closed the door and exited the stable to the courtyard while the horse was eating, meeting Kara there.

"I usually let them eat peacefully unless I'm in a rush, so we can go ahead and get the grooming stuff now. They won't be long."

Kara had decided to show Lena how to properly groom horses on Diana, much to Lena's dismay. Both horses were tied up inside the courtyard, Ernie having his hind leg bend with his lower lip hanging down adorably.

Kara took one look at him and smiled. "That all means he's relaxed. Do you see his ears?"

Lena nodded, looking at them lazily stuck halfway up.

"Horses cannot drop their ears entirely, only moving them vertically or bending them backwards. This is the closest it gets to dropping them. It means he's feeling safe and protected, and maybe a bit sleepy."

Kara grinned, and then turned to Diana, next to which Lena was standing, a safe length away. The blonde woman walked up to Lena and the big horse, and stopped between them, her fingers running gently over the muscular skin of the horse's neck.

"Diana is a shire horse. They are part of the draft horse group, which were originally used for pulling farm equipment or timber. Nowadays, there's not much use for them, so the quantity of draught horses, and shires with them, has decreased incredibly. They can be ridden, but despite their bulky look, they cannot carry loads of weight on their backs." She leaned into the chest of the big horse, at least half a head taller than her by its wither. A moment passed, then Kara gestured towards her, "You can touch her, you know? She's not going to bite."

Lena hesitated, her fingers twitching. It had been a while that she had been this close to horses, or any big animal for that matter. She trusted Kara, and Diana hadn't done anything scary or sudden yet. So after a moment, she gave in, her hand coming up to gently stroke the horse's neck close to its head.

Diana turned her giant head in a slow movement further into Lena, her nostrils widening as she blew a soft breath over Lena's chest. Lena quivered, but then a strong hand steadied her back in a soft touch, burning right between her shoulder blades.

"It's okay," Kara said, a firm presence next to her. "She's greeting you."

Lena relaxed, her hand flattening again and again on the soft, warm fur.

"Touch her nose, it's the softest part. She doesn't mind it." Kara's hand fell away.

Lena raised her hand, gently lowering it down and over the back of the horse's nose, all the way down to her nostrils. And right there, between them, Lena was met by warm velvet. "Woah," she couldn't help but breathe. "It's so soft."

"It is," Kara whispered from beside her, her hand on Diana's neck again.

They stood for a moment, gently touching the horse while she was waiting patiently. Lena was filled with something that felt almost like pride, her earlier fear gone. Diana was huge, yes. She was ginormous, and strong. But she was also so gentle and careful, every movement performed with caution and awareness to those around her.

"Okay, now that you've got to know her, I'll show you a bit on how to brush her so it doesn't make her uncomfortable." Kara walked over to the grooming boxes they had brought and picked out two brushes, handing one to Lena.

Lena learned how to do the horse's face, their body, what spots to be careful around and how to pick out their feet—very huge feet, in Diana's case—while Kara was calmly demonstrating. She made Lena try it all too, each doing one side of the horse.

Once it was done and brushed, Lena felt infinitely more comfortable, a familiar feeling from her childhood coming back, her body almost falling into a long forgotten autopilot.

They continued to brush Ernie, and once both horses were done Lena followed Kara back into the tack room with her grooming box.

"I work my horses regularly, getting them moving and loosening them up. It has helped immensely with Ernie's initial stiffness, and it keeps them in shape and me on the sure side that they aren't hiding any injuries." Kara was standing before the saddles and tack. Her hand was hovering over a selection of bridles, all of them leathered, brown or black. "Today, we'll be working with Diana. I haven't ridden her in a month or so, but I want to get her used to it again." Her lean hands settled on a black one with white accents.

"It has no bit," Lena blurted, and Kara turned to her, surprise painted on her ridiculously flawless face.

She paused for a moment, before nodding slowly. "That's correct. I merely have three bridles with bits in my possession, I've always found them a bit—" she furrowed her brows in thought for the right phrasing, "unnecessary?"

Lena could only nod. "I've barely ridden in my life, but I remember the stead I was attending was keen on riding with them. They made it clear that horses can be better controlled like that."

Kara sighed, a heavy breath of air that Lena recognised from Sam when she'd drop by after setting Ruby off at a friend's house. A tired revolt against the world in its wholeness. "Horses cannot be controlled better because they're chewing on a piece of metal," Kara corrected, and Lena knew the bitter tinge in her tone wasn't directed at her, "they can only be hurt more. Whether that is the goal desired to achieve truly depends on the morals of the person working the horse."

"I understand." And Lena did. The world she knew, the one she grew up into, was so cruel to living beings it pained her. Empathy was weakness, so she never got to speak her mind about it, but here she now was in a different world. A place where no one knew her, and where things went differently. So she could be honest, and make clear to Kara that Lena didn't support that kind of carelessness.

Diana looked like a magical entity, trotting around Kara in a wide circle.

They had gone out to a fenced space laid with sand and Kara had called it a riding arena before Lena could even ask. Now Lena was standing right outside of it, her arms leaned over the top bar lazily as she watched.

The horse was still huge, of course, but from a slight distance she didn't look fearsome. She looked graceful. Her long, slightly curled mane was flowing as much as anything could possibly flow, running down her defined neck in dark waves. Her tail was swinging with every step, ripples running through a raven river and her silver featherings—the term for the long fur at her ankles, as Lena had learned from Kara only minutes prior.

But all of that beautiful, freshly brushed hair was just enhancing what made her look so etherical: Diana was trotting roundly. Her neck was slightly curled, her legs picked up in a curved motion and set down as easily as they had lifted. Despite the sheer size and weight of her body, the horse was flying.She was moving in a seamless loop, altered to perfection.

And Lena was mesmerised.

Kara moved the horse for a few minutes, changing it from trot to walk and cantering her for a short duration, too. Eventually she slowed Diana down to a stand and rewarded her.

"Come inside," Kara called out to Lena, waving her to get into the space.

Lena followed her demands, walking up to the pair.

"I've been doing groundwork with her ever since I first got her." Kara smiled, gently stroking the horse's neck. "She's trusting and very keen on learning new things. I want to show you the basics before we work with Ernie tomorrow."

"So you're working them every day?" Lena asked, perplexed. She hadn't really considered how much time one spends on taking care of horses, but now it just seemed unreal that Kara was working as well. Unless she considered herself, and the 16 hours of work she easily got through on a lazy day.

"I try to. Most days the weather isn't on my side, sometimes there's issues and sometimes I'm just too exhausted." Kara grinned apologetically, but continued, "The crucial part of groundwork is building a connection to the horse. You're the leader, and they follow. You need to establish signs they can understand, and correct the behaviour you don't want to see. In horse language, everything happens through our bodies."

Kara had shifted backwards a bit, standing closer to Lena now as she held a lounging rope with Diana on it. She was still talking to Lena, explaining to her what she was trying to achieve, but her focus, her body, was directed at Diana.

"I show dominance towards the horse by making it move its feet. If you're immovable, you're the leader. If they scare and intimidate you, you're easily falling to be the submissive one. That's why you stand your ground, and you make the horse move."

Kara stepped forward a bit, giving an impulse to the lounging rope connecting her to Diana's big head. The horse pulled her head back a bit before slowly setting one, and then two more feet backwards, creating controlled space between them.

"Backing up is the strongest sign of submission in their language. That's why it's part of the basic exercises that establish the connection to the horse." Kara stepped towards Diana and stroked her neck again, rewarding her with a few treats. "Before you can get anywhere, though, you need to be able to lead your horse where you want them to move. The common way to do that is to simply direct their head in the direction."

They spent some time moving and stretching Diana, and Lena learned that turning the horse over both their back and front feet were the other basic movements of groundwork, and lounging was the exercise that tested the connection to the horse by creating distance.

Kara was truly only showing off. Diana moved wherever she demanded without any fuss, her heavy feet sweeping over the ground like she was a puppet on strings. The shift of the blonde's body had the horse swinging its own in the requested direction, a hand coming up was enough to stop her. Diana was brilliant, incredibly responsive and calm throughout.

Kara rewarded her graciously.

Eventually, they packed up their things, closed the stable doors to the courtyard and made their way back to the house.

"Time for some lunch," Kara groaned. "I'm starving. Aren't you?"

Lena couldn't say she was, but the thought of warm food wasn't something she was opposed to. "I'd love some lunch," she offered, and Kara lit up.

So Kara went straight for the kitchen after they had shed from dusty stable clothing, and while Lena joined her, she was strictly forbidden to help her out.

"No, you have already done enough, Lena." Kara waved her off with her hands, shooing her out of the kitchen space. Lena felt strangely like a submissive horse for a fleeting moment. "Go relax, I'll be done in a few minutes or so."

But relaxing wasn't something Lena did, so instead she got her laptop and opened up her work email. As she settled down on the corner couch across the living space, soft clicks of paw prints approached her. When Lena looked up, a dark, sniffing nose was looking at her expectantly, just over the edge of it two dark eyes glowing at her.

"Hi, Maya," Lena offered gently. The dog sniffed harder, a long pink tongue lashing out to wet her nose while her tail started swinging, the force of it moving Maya's entire behind and letting her paws slowly skitter across the wooden planks on the floor. "Do you want to join me?"

Kara laughed from across the kitchen, her gaze on the two of them. "She may think you have a hand to spare that could scratch and snuggle her," Kara grinned. "When I settle down on the sofa, she usually follows and lays down beside me."

Lena glanced back down to the caramel furred dog. "Do you want cuddles?" she whispered, no sense of embarrassment in her chest at the furious wiggle of Maya's bum and the shortly following paws that climbed the couch in a smooth jump.

And then the gorgeous dog shoved its nose into Lena's lap, a content huff coming from its mouth. Lena's hand hovered above the dog's body, Maya's chest moving slowly up and down with her regular breathing. Lena let her fingers sink down to touch the dog, carefully petting over her short brown fur. Maya huffed again, and Lena's heart clenched.

She knew why she didn't have pets.

She knew she wouldn't survive parting from them, in any circumstances.

She wanted to protect Maya with all she had.

Lena didn't get much work done, but she did get quite close to relaxing, which was surely going to make Sam proud once she would call her to update her.

"So, forgive me, but I have to ask," Kara started once they had settled down fully to eat, and Lena's spine snapped straight in horror. Relaxing was over.

Kara knew, and now she was going to pry. She would ask, no, demand about Lena's stay, and the absurdity of it, and it would all end here.

And Lena would pack her bags and leave in just about 10 minutes.

How nice it had been, peace, for one day.

"Do you prefer mashed or baked potatoes?"

"What?" Lena looked at Kara incredulous, a serious expression staring back at her.

"I was thinking about dinner tonight, and well, it is a very serious matter. It can seriously impact the outcome of the dish," Kara insisted.

Lena sighed, her racing heart slowly relaxing. "I prefer them baked," she said with a soft smile.

She needed to get a grip.

After lunch, Kara allowed Lena to enter the kitchen and help her by drying the dishes Kara was washing.

"This is not going to become a thing," Kara had grumbled, but Lena had just smiled innocently. Kara would come around, she knew it.

"So, what exactly do you work as?" Lena asked hesitantly, eyeing Kara as she took yet another plate from her hands.

Kara smiled, shrugging. "I'm an editor. I work for the state newspaper."

Lena raised a brow. That was hardly a wage to live on, nor was it enough to afford a house as beautiful as this one and feed five animals on a daily basis.

Kara chuckled when she glanced over, holding out a pan for Lena to dry. "Are you confused about the money?" she asked knowingly.

"I am," Lena confirmed.

"Well, let's say sometimes losing a few family members can have its benefits." Kara shrugged around the words, but Lena wasn't blind, and the pain behind her eyes wasn't hiding. She wasn't sure how far she was allowed to go here, and how many answers she owed Kara in return.

"So, you inherited?" Lena decided to steer the topic around the big, spiky boulder in its centre.

"I did, yeah." Kara nodded. "Not the land, but enough money to buy it, and well, build the house."

At this, Lena's brows furrowed. "Build? You mean you had it done new?"

Kara turned to her, her lips upturned. "No," she said, her head shaking softly with it, "I mean I built it. Brick by brick, with a few friends and a lot of patience. I had a company pour the foundation and set the basic outline to my request, and the rest we scratched out from under our nails."

Lena must've looked absolutely flabbergasted—she felt it, too—because Kara genuinely laughed when she met her gaze. How the fuck does one build a house by themselves?

"We added the stables later on, when I had decided to rescue Diana," Kara continued, and another pan made its way into Lena's hands. "I meant to add a second building last year, further down by the riverbed next to the shed, but then—" Kara's voice faltered, her gaze flicking towards Lena and then to the window, brows furrowing, "—something came up, and I couldn't. It's a shame, I'd still like to do it."

Kara fell silent, and Lena nodded towards nothing in particular. "I see. I'm impressed, I won't lie. Building a house is not for the weak."

At that, Kara grinned a crooked smile, and without a warning, the blonde woman dropped the pot she had been washing up and raised her arms, only to expose two beautifully shaped biceps in the midday lighting that brightened the kitchen. "Good thing I'm not one of them," she said smugly, and winked shamelessly at Lena.

Lena, who was staring, the pan she had been drying hanging loosely from one hand, her cheeks painted a full pink. She hadn't been around anyone as bold as Kara in such a long time, it was almost refreshing.

Almost, weren't it for the way Lena's belly tugged low, and the faint stutter in her chest. Lena knew she would have to be careful around Kara now, making sure she wasn't too close and her eyes weren't lingering too much. She had encountered one too many women that were surprisingly disgusted by the idea of being admired in a sexual way by other women, and she couldn't alloy herself to make Kara, her host, feel uncomfortable.

Lena swallowed as Kara turned back to the pot, a soft smile looking at her now. "I can see that,” she uttered after the silence stretched for a moment too long.

Kara retreated downstairs into her office to get some work done after that, and she told Lena she was off, free to do or roam as she liked.

So Lena went right back to the couch she had been on, her laptop propped up on a very useful overhang table that reached across her legs as she sprawled her body out over the chaise lounge.

Maya had trotted away with Kara, so she was alone now, and could focus more intently on work. But as she opened her laptop, merely an hour after last having logged into her digital workspace, she found her emails empty.

Lena knew something was off, because she hadn't written back to multiple vendors yet and there wasn't an hourly addition of around 18 emails in her inbox that she was so painfully used to, so something or someone was blocking her off from her own company.

She didn't hesitate, her fingers skittering across the screen of her phone. It rang twice before the other end picked up.

"Hello, sunshine, I was wondering how long it would take you to call me," Sam's voice rang through the microphone, "Are you relaxing yet?"

"Sam." Lena warned, her eyes narrowing threateningly into the emptiness of the living space.

"Yes, honey?" She was playing the innocent card. Lena would have to push for it herself.

"Did you cut me off from the work server?" Lena drawled.

"Work?" Sam answered sweetly, "How would you know about work on your vacation. You couldn't possibly be aware if you were relaxing."

Lena groaned. "Sam."

"That's my name." Sam was way too chippy about all of this.

"Could you please turn off the filter?"

"I could, but I fear that I would be empty handed over here if I did."

"I don't—"

"You see, Lena, you and your work are a bit like alcohol and my mother." Oh no. "I've always disliked the deficit in attention you are giving me when you have access to it, and I haven't had to look for very long to know that it smelled like addiction."

"Sam, I'm not—" Lena tried again, but Sam wasn't finished.

"No, Lena," she said, her voice serious. "I miss you. The real you. The woman that cares, and listens, and stays. We've talked about this. You're there to take a break, to let go of some of the stress. You're getting a weekly stock and review update, and that's it. Let me have my best friend, Lena. Please."

Lena was quiet for a moment, her chest suddenly heavy. She loved Sam so much, but to hear affection from a person close to her still felt strange. "I'm sorry," she offered, and a soft sigh rang through the speaker.

"It's okay. Just—" Sam paused, papers shuffling in the background, "live the moment. Be in nature, sit on a horse, go swimming. I don't know. Do something that isn't fighting for your worth by killing your will to live."

Lena huffed out a laugh. "Sure."

She could hear Sam's grin in her voice, "So, how's your host?"

"She's—" Lena hesitated, her brows furrowing, "how far did you dig?"

"You know me, darling," Sam said, saying nothing and everything with it. "I always do a thorough background check. Your girl is quite the face in her area."

"She …is?" That was news. Kara was an editor, a job barely getting recognition or public appearance.

"She must be somewhat special, because people love her. Did you know she built the house herself?"

"I did."

"And her sister is living over here, on this side of the ocean."

"She is?"

Sam hummed in confirmation. "But besides that, what do you think?"

"What do you mean?"

"About her. How is she? Is she human, or like, strange?"

"She's human," Lena assured with a chuckle, "even though those guns may be considered alien."

"Oh?" Sam's voice lit up with excitement. "Do I hear that right? Is Lena Kieran Luthor attracted to the lean arms of a certain blonde?"

"Shut up." Lena said, but she couldn't hold the smile. "But no, she's nice. It's a bit unexpected, coming from a corporate world where everyone is trying to screw you, that she gives without asking for anything in return. She just seems—" Lena tasted the words that came up to attempt describing the blinding ray that was Kara's smile, "content. To have me here and help her out."

"You know that doesn't have to stop you from testing the waters."

"I don't want to," Lena said without a breath. "She's attractive, yes, but her being kind is better than sex could ever be. I had enough fuck buddies in my life, Sam. I know that honest smiles are rare, especially for someone like me."

"So, you want to keep her in the blue and just have a summer of laughter?" Sam didn't sound judgemental, but a bit stunned.

"I'm not keeping her in the blue," Lena defended. "I'm simply not dumping my past on her. I don't need her to kick me out before I've even arrived properly."

"Okay," Sam agreed, calmly. "I'm glad she's nice. You know I will send a swat team if she lays as much as a finger on you."

Lena sighed. This kind of affection was way more familiar, now. "I know."

"Good," Sam chipped. She took a breath, the sound ringing through the speaker. "Ruby misses you too, you know."

"I miss her too," Lena smiled, her gaze drifting out of the window. "Give her a hug from me."

"You know I will," Sam said softly.

Chapter Text

The day drifted by eventlessly. Lena stayed on the couch, and her inbox stayed dead.

Kara surfaced from her office around 5 pm, a tired smile on her face. "Hi," she greeted Lena, a mug in her hand. "Do you want tea?"

"I'm okay," Lena told her.

Kara hummed, her mug raising to her lips. "I'd do the animals soon, and then I'll make us some dinner. Could you help me with the goats?"

Lena got up from the couch then, folding her laptop closed and setting it down on the dinner table. "Yeah, of course. Is there anything else I can help with?"

Kara turned, a smile tugging at her blue eyes. "No, Lena. You're doing enough," Kara said simply.

Something inside of Lena twisted, unfurling in her chest. She nodded, swallowing around the faint lump in her throat. Words. Strange how they could shift her mood, her entire world, in the blink of a moment.

Kara was oblivious to the yearning in Lena's heart, Lena knew that. And it was so refreshing to be around someone that didn't know her at all, someone who said what they thought and smiled untamed, no worry or distrust in the shadow of their eyes. Someone who didn't gatekeep praise or gratitude like it would drain from being told too much.

Kara nudged her gently as she walked by, her mug left behind on the kitchen counter. "Come on, let's feed the nuisances."

Dinner was similar to breakfast for the horses and goats, just the supplements were left out. Lena mixed each meal with care, her brain relaxing into the flow of the work.

They fed the goats and the horses quite swiftly, and Kara explained they wouldn't need brushing, just the feet picked out and a quick feel for injuries. So Kara went into each box and gently petted both horses and the goats down, and Lena hovered by the door each time, watching from a safe distance.

When Diana had finished her dinner, she stepped up the stable door and gently blew over Lena's arms, her hairs rising with the breeze. "Hi," Lena breathed.

The horse took another step and her huge head slowly slipped over the stable door, hovering next to Lena's torso. Lena reached a hand out and gently stroked over the horse's neck and up between her ears, and Diana huffed out another breath, her head pressing softly into the touch.

Kara surfaced from Ernie's box, a smile on her face as she spotted them. "Is she already asking for snuggles?" Kara grinned. "I honestly expected her to wait a few days, but I can't blame her, you look like a good cuddle."

Kara turned quick enough for the faint pink to Lena's cheeks to go unnoticed, and Lena just petted Diana more, whispering sweet nothings into the horse's big ears.

Eventually, Kara announced they were done, stables clean and the hay boxes full enough. They opened the doors towards the paddock and the fields to let the animals free roam and came back to the courtyard. Kara led them through the garden, fruit trees and raised beds splayed across the space, and a greenhouse snug in one corner.

"I meant to ask before, but what exactly do you grow in here?" Lena asked, her feet slowing to a stop.

Kara, who had walked in front, turned and looked across the space, dissected by paths and wildflowers. "All sorts. Those are apple and plum trees, but the big one in the back carries cherries. The bushes are currant and berry ones. I grow lettuce and spinach in these beds over here, carrots and radish in the ones over there," Kara was turning and gesturing at different beds across the garden and her face lit up with excitement, "and the greenhouse has space for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini and pea plants." Kara was grinning proudly at her, a satisfaction in her gaze that Lena knew came from the heart.

"It's really impressive, Kara," Lena emphasised, her lips raising softly at the blonde's expression.

"Thank you," Kara said earnestly, "Oh, and in that separate space over there I grow potatoes and bulb plants like onions." She looked around with a smile. "It's not nearly enough to feed me through a year, but the food tastes different homemade. Better. And it always looks a bit funny."

Kara laughed at the thought of her absurdly shaped homegrown food, and Lena's smile widened as her heart bloomed.

"I'll show you how to grow and care for all of it, if you'd like. It's not too hard, especially with the loads of rain around here."

"I would like that," Lena heard herself say before her brain had even fully processed the offer.

Kara just nodded, her eyes gleaming. "Come on, let's eat some dinner."

Later, when they had finished dinner and washed up—together, of course, because Lena insisted—, Kara grabbed Lena's hand without explanation, her smile wide as she pulled her down the corridor, past their rooms.

"Kara, what are you doing? Where are you taking me?"

Her questions were answered when Kara pushed through the door at the end of the corridor that led onto the balcony above the garage. 

Lena lost her breath for only a moment.

The balcony was laid with chestnut wooden planks, the sleek metal railing around it painted the same dark green as the house's aesthetic, a roof shielding it from bad weather. A wide, comfy outdoor couch hugged the corner on the right, the window to Lena's room just a bit further along the wall. A table sat before the couch, and there were two armchairs on the left, placed before a double door that was surely leading right into Kara's room.

Lena didn't peek through the windows in the doors. She didn't.

But truly, what knocked the air out of her wasn't the beautiful layout of the balcony, or the seamless design. No, it was the view.

Not that Lena hadn't seen the view from her window before, but it just so happened to be accented by the most beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow of a low glowing orb on the horizon.

Before her, the hills of the scenery unfolded, fields with cows and sheep all across, houses scattered in between. There was a town further down the road, merged between two rather big hills a bit to the left. And behind all that, between hills that raised into big formations, the setting sun was shining back at them.

"Woah," Lena breathed. She hadn't been as amazed in the last three years working in National City as she has been in one day here.

Kara just smiled, no answer needed for that view. She squeezed Lena's hand that she was still holding, and slipped their fingers apart. "It's like this on most of the sunny days, and I just love enjoying it with a good book. But honestly, good company does just as well."

It was a question, really. Lena could see it in Kara's gaze once she finally let her eyes off of the view. Kara wanted to sit and watch the sunset with her, talking about their lives. And Lena did, too.

"If we sit here, I'll need a blanket," Lena explained. "And a hot cup of coffee."

Kara's grin spread, blinding almost like the sun. "Yes, of course. I think I'll have a cup of tea, too." And then she dipped back through the door into the house.

Lena hesitated for a moment, soaking in the painting before her and taking a deep breath of fresh countryside air. Sam may have been right. Maybe, this wasn't so bad. Maybe she was able to let go of some things around here.

They settled on the couch instead of the armchairs, and as soon as Lena sat down, she knew that it was a brilliant choice. The couch, despite looking like the minimalist designer item from one of her high society magazines back at home that usually turned out stiff, was a heaven of pillows, welcoming Lena's body into their realm.

Lena audibly sighed as she sunk into the cushions, and Kara chuckled while setting down their cups on the coffee table before them. She followed Lena's example, her back pressing snugly into the corner where the back of the couch met the armrest as she pulled a pair of strong legs up onto the couch. They shoved their legs under a big, soft shared blanket, and as Lena tasted from her coffee, happiness suddenly felt like a familiar friend.

"I take it you are a bit exhausted, then?" Kara asked hesitantly, her blue eyes looking at Lena over the rim of her cup of tea.

"Maybe," Lena drew out, the corner of her mouth curling. "It has truly been the least active day I've had in a while," she explained, her expression challenging, "but, I am not one for physical work, nor do I get half as many steps in as I would like."

Kara hummed into her tea. Lena's gaze tore away from the woman's ridiculously flawless face then, darting back to the stunning view and its enchanting hues.

"Like I said, the first days are always the worst. All of my helpers have been fairly exhausted from them. It takes about two weeks until you're properly used to the routine and the workload." Kara wasn't looking at Lena like what the exhaustion she was feeling was a sign of weakness. There was just—understanding. A comforting calmness in her gaze, nonchalance that told Lena it was okay. Normal.

Being around Kara had a strange effect on her heart. It seemed the morals and standards she had been held to for most of her life were a far absurdity to the blue eyed woman, her encouraging smile outshining the confusing mess in Lena's head. Even the little voice that told her she was worthless was strangely quiet in Kara's presence, and Lena didn't have the energy to search for the exact reasoning and cause.

She just breathed, leaning further into the couch.

"So I'm not the laziest woman you've ever met then?" Lena asked with a smug smile.

Kara just looked at her, sincerity thick in her gaze. "You're more helpful than the average person I had to come help me, and you've been here barely a day."

Lena hummed at that, content with the answer. She took another sip of her coffee, the taste familiar on her tongue, a reminder of home, her best friend, and the cold rainy days she was used to watching from her office window.

The view she was admiring now was so far from that.

"Your house is truly stunning, but even if it weren't, this view would make up for its faults."

Kara chuckled, swirling her mug of tea. "I know a place," She said, her eyes glinting mischievously in the low light of the setting sun, "if you like sunsets and great views. I could take you."

Kara's gaze was heavy, and Lena would've counted it as flirting, but she couldn't be sure. Kara was just always smiling, and it was incredibly hard to tell whether she was happy or interested.

Either way, Lena wouldn't be sleeping with her host anyways.

"I love sunsets and great views," she answered in a light, but decisive tone.

Kara just hummed, her gaze turning back to the view. Lena adjusted on the couch, stretching her legs out and bending her neck in hopes to release the stiffness in her shoulders. Through the motion, all she succeeded doing though was brushing her calf against Kara's. To her defense, the couch wasn't very wide.

Lena halted, already preparing for the flinch, or maybe just a decisive tug away. A boundary established that Lena was a stranger in Kara's house, and she didn't want her touch. Discomfort that she was so used to seeing on stranger's faces, and really didn't want to bring to Kara's smile.

But Kara didn't move, her content gaze still fixed on the burgundy clouds that were creeping over the sky.

Lena relaxed, her shoulders sinking with the tension leaving her body. She snuggled deeper into the cushions, her head falling back against them. The bird songs filled their comfortable silence, nature's own melody for life. Lena couldn't say when she had last heard them. Definitely not in her office, and, except for the occasional pigeon, also not in National City. It must've been years, maybe a decade.

Back then, Lex had still been like a brother. No signs of the cruel acts playing in his mind, not one hint that a genius mind was bound to turn to madness.

Lena swirled the memories down with another sip of coffee.

"Do you ever wonder what our world would look like if we had never invented computers and the internet?" Kara asked, almost melancholically.

Lena pondered the question for a moment. She, surely, wouldn't be where she is now. A lot of things would be different. "I don't think about it much, to be honest."

Kara nodded, taking a swig of her tea. "Sometimes I do. Sometimes I wonder if people were more present, in the life they live. If they would care, more."

Now Kara seemed almost sad, her brows furrowed together above her gleaming blue eyes. "I suppose some people would," Lena agreed. "But of all the horrible people I've met, and I've had my share, I don't think a technology free life was what they were lacking."

The people who committed hate crimes against her, those that attempted public humiliation, and even the assassination attempts she had lived through weren't entirely to blame on the internet. Sure, most people may only have heard from her through the newspapers if there wasn't social media, but really, what difference did it make? People still despised her, accusing her of things that she had expressed herself against thoroughly over and over again. People just liked to hate sometimes.

"So what do you think makes our societies so angry?" Kara asked, her frown filled with simple confusion. There was no hate in her eyes, not that sparkle of distaste against the cruelty that life could unfold to become.

"The pain that is inflicted on them. The lack of fairness in our systems. And the widespread fear that the media feeds us all on the daily. Fear keeps people on the edge, and it keeps them oppressed." Lena had learned this in social studies early on in her high school years, and Lilian had drilled it into her enough to stick. Fear was the best weapon against an opponent. You aren't required to argue those that bend to you willingly. It was a disgusting way of seeing the world.

"I suppose I don't understand why anyone would want to inflict harm. There's so much of everything in the world, why is the one thing humans hunger for, power?" Kara's gaze found hers then, and behind that glowing blue, Lena could make out deep rooted pain. "If everyone can have enough, why do we keep taking from those that have so little?"

Lena swallowed, a familiar guilt rising in her throat. She herself was contributing to this problem. She knew it. And while she was giving to charity and supporting important businesses, and while she had helped build a children's hospital and founded plenty of educational systems, she was still a billionaire. A woman who made millions in a day, without having to lift much of a finger.

She did, regardless of the capitalist run city she was working tirelessly, but she knew so many people in the higher circles that didn't. And when they couldn't afford a third private jet, they just lowered the pay of their workers. There were always enough workers that were willing to toil for mere cents, simply because no income was worse than a horrendously paid job.

Lena also knew with near certainty that Kara didn't have a clue what a life Lena was leading.

"I suppose changing the laws always gets hindered by exactly those wealthy people that drive the exploitment further. They have the means to let politics play to their will, and it isn't in their interest to share their wealth." It was true, but Lena felt the need to add, "That doesn't apply to every single wealthy person, of course, but just too many."

Kara sighed, "Yeah." She adjusted on the couch, her legs brushing further along Lena's under the blanket. Her covered foot stroked over Lena's joggers twice. Kara was smiling at her again, her eyes sparkling in the low light.

"While this is a wonderful moment, I must warn you, the horse flies here are silent and deadly."

"What?" Lena almost shot up from her seat, ready to lock herself in her room and slide beneath the covers.

Kara leaned forward, her lean hand landing on Lena's knee. "Not to worry, they're not actually deadly. They're just filthy bloodsuckers that will steal your last nerve." Her fingers were stroking over the blanket, leaving a hot sensation on Lena's skin despite two layers of fabric. "I have good stuff to help the itch afterwards, I'm just telling you now because you may wake up tomorrow perforated."

Lena chuckled, sipping more of her almost empty coffee. "Thank you, Kara. I'm definitely not looking forward to that."

Kara smiled, leaning back and retreating her hand. She winked at Lena before turning back to the horizon, the sun now swallowed by the earth and only the clouds hinting at its existence.

Lena woke for the first time in months from a dreamless sleep, her head pleasantly light.

It was also barely after 7 am.

Instead of going back to sleep, Lena decided to get up and settle in the living space—maybe she would catch a glimpse of the risen sun and its morning hues. She dressed into joggers and an oversized shirt and creeped through the corridor past Kara's door.

The living space was empty, neither Kara nor Maya anywhere to see. Lena walked into the kitchen, starting the coffee machine for a morning cup. When she looked up from it, the room was lit in an orange glow, and as she walked over to the windows facing east, the rising sun was shining back at her between clouds.

Lena settled in an armchair across from the couch, her eyes closed as the sun warmed her skin. Mornings like this, she could get used to.

She must have been slumbering for a while, because she startled awake from the door to the space being opened and the clicking of energised dog paws sounding over to the lounge area. Lena sat up straighter, noticing with a relieved sigh that she had been smart enough to place her coffee on the table before dozing off.

But then she turned to the door to see whether Kara had come in, and suddenly, she was wide awake.

Kara was there, standing by the door with a wide smile on her face, her gaze on Maya. She was dressed in skintight thermowear and joggers, her golden waves tied up into a high ponytail and—

She was sweaty. And out of breath, her chest heaving with ragged breaths.

Lena, no.

Lena squeezed her thighs together, letting her body curl back into the armchair. Maybe she would be spared today. Maybe Kara was going to turn around in just a second and Lena would be able to breathe and make a run for her room.

But she wasn't spared, and Kara stepped fully into the living room, leaning down to give Maya a proper pet. "Shhh, pretty girl, we have to be quiet," she whispered to the dog while scratching her, "Lena's still sleeping."

Lena decided to spare them both the embarrassment at that, coughing softly and getting up from the armchair. "Morning," she greeted them, and Kara turned her attention away from the thoroughly wiggling dog.

"Lena, hi!" She exclaimed, her smile stretching even further. "You're awake early."

"I could say the same thing," Lena said, picking up her coffee from the table and raising a brow at Kara's furrowed brows, letting her gaze comically drag over Kara's fit.

"Oh, right," Kara said. "I went for a run with Maya. We usually do one before breakfast," she leaned down to pet Maya again, "Isn't that right, my girl?"

Lena swallowed, ignoring promptly how Kara's back twitched under the fabric of the tight shirt.

"Alright," Kara surfaced, "I better go shower, I'll be back in a few to feed Maya and us."

"I could feed Maya," Lena offered dumbfoundedly.

Kara hesitated for only a second. "Yeah, if you want to. Her cans are in the cupboards on the right, her bowl is in there as well. Just put it near her water over there." Kara gestured around the room. "You don't have to, though."

"That's fine, Kara," Lena smiled, "I've got it."

"Okay, groovy." A second passed before Kara reddened and promptly turned to leave.

The horses were already in their stable when Lena followed Kara out. The woman had freshened up, her blonde hair now fluffy and neatly stuffed under a cap. She had changed into another tank top, over trousers around her legs. Lena kept her gaze away from that sculptured body successfully.

They approached the boxes, and when Lena leaned over the stable door, Diana was eating hay out of a haybox with eager pulls, a net preventing her from swallowing the contents whole. She had also, as unmistakably clear by the smell, crapped into her stable. Kara appeared next to her, leaning against Diana's door too.

"Oh look, our girl has done her deed in the stable," Kara laughed, her grin widening at the disgusted tug to Lena's features. "We'll have to clean that up. I bet Ernie has left us a gift too."

So Kara vanished and came back with a stable butler, handing it to Lena. Lena just raised a brow. "You have the honour," Kara smiled. "You'll be doing it regularly around here, so you better get used to it."

Lena sighed, taking the tools and stepping into Diana's stable. The horse didn't move or react at all when she walked over to the crap heap, and with careful strokes, Lena began her life as a shit shoveller. The smell was surprisingly not nearly as bad as it could have been.

After they had finished brushing the horses, Kara led Ernie over to the riding arena.

She led the buckskin horse around to loosen his step, and then began with similar exercises as she had before with Diana. Ernie was visibly less responsive than Diana had been, the cues to how Kara wanted him to move not always immediately understood. Despite that, the horse still managed to perform what Kara asked of him, and after around half an hour, Kara seemed satisfied with their work. She walked the horse back over to the gate where Lena stood, watching.

"Today was a good session," Kara told her, "he's relaxed, which doesn't happen as much. I would ride him, considering the weather is great, but we need to check the shed down by the river, and I want to show you around the land on Lux."

"On Lux?" Lena raised a brow.

"You'll see," Kara winked.

They walked back to the stables, letting Ernie out on the field to join Diana and bringing Siglinde and Getrude to a special field Kara wanted them to clear. Once the goats were on their field and the two women had made it back to the stable, Kara led them to the utility garage, propping open the winged doors.

Behind the doors, Kara revealed a huge turquoise tractor with thick wheels, and a much smaller red quad bike. On the left were all kinds of devices to be hooked up to the tractor or quad bike, and shelves and a workbench holding more tools and materials.

"Welcome," Kara said mysteriously, "to the utility garage." She stepped up to the tractor, which was almost twice as tall as her. "This big baby is Raven," she explained before leaning over to the smaller quad bike, "and this is Lux."

"And we're taking Lux?" Lena asked skeptically, her brow raising.

Kara grinned even wider, clearly immune to Lena's face card. "Yep. Come over here, I'll show you how to get her going." The wink was absolutely unnecessary.

Starting and driving Lux was fairly simple and straightforward, its gearbox only consisting of 4 gears— reverse included—, very similar to an automatic car. Kara got on with a clean swing of her leg, and as she sat down on the still quite large bike, Lena felt that familiar tug in her belly return. The blonde leaned forward, pushing her hips off the seat and looking expectantly at Lena.

After a moment of nothing, Kara ordered, "Hop on."

"What?"

"Get on the seat behind me. We're doing a tour."

So Lena climbed up on the bike and sat down on the wide seat of the quad bike, leaving room for Kara to lower herself back down. Once she did, the woman turned her head back. "If you're not planning to fall off mid way, I'd advise you to scoot up and hold on."

Lean looked around, the space behind her not equipped with proper handles, only a metal grid for loading things onto. It might do, but it would shift her weight back and risk her falling off even more than sitting up straight. "Hold onto what?"

Kara sighed, laughing. Then her hand reached back, landing on Lena's thigh, tugging softly. "Me," Kara explained as she made Lena slide up close to her from behind. "Just grab my waist, you won't hurt me."

Hurting wasn't exactly why Lena was hesitating, but Kara had pulled her forward enough for them to be somewhat flush together, and Lena couldn't really focus with her thighs pressing against the outside of Kara's. So she clasped her arms around Kara's torso, her hands landing on a ridiculously toned stomach. Was Kara even human at this point?

Lena was definitely feeling the heat in her belly now, and her fingers felt twitchy as she focused not to let them slide over the soft fabric of Kara's tank top. She was her helper, for fucks sake.

The engine roared to life, and luckily, Kara pressed the accelerator and drove them down the courtyard and towards the gate.

"Can you hop off and open it for us?" Kara asked, but Lena had already pulled away and was halfway off the bike. She pulled the hook back, opening the gate and closing it behind the quad bike once Kara had driven by.

Then she climbed back into the seat, leaving a bit more space between their bodies than before, her hands locking into each other in front of Kara's belly. She was not going to repeat her mistake touching that part of Kara's body.

The land was quite wide.

They drove down a track through trees that somewhat separated fields partly, but because of the lack of fencing, the area was mostly one giant field. Lena was speechless for most of the ride.

Kara, instead, was talking a lot. The woman was content to show her all the nice bits of her property, from the little dock by the river that Kara admitted she went swimming from sometimes to the almost magical tree covered path along the side of it. They circled the house in a wide radius, driving down past a line of trees into another field, which was currently occupied by the horses. Ernie pulled up his head at the sound of the quad bike, letting out a snort and trotting up to them.

Kara stopped the bike to greet the horse, who was immediately asking for treats with his mouth. Kara just laughed, stroking him before starting the bike again. Diana seemed unbothered by the red beast riding her fields.

Eventually, Kara had shown Lena the entire path around, and they reached the shed that Kara wanted to check on. The blonde parked the bike to the side of it and shut off the engine. Lena let go of her solid body and slipped off the bike, stretching out her legs and waiting for Kara to take the lead.

"Right through here," Kara directed, opening one of the door wings to the roofed building.

Inside, it was warm and stuffy. In a corner along the walls hung some tools, at the far end Lena could make out one stable that was open on one side, no doors to close it. The rest of the room was empty.

Lena turned to Kara. "What are we doing here?"

"I need some spare parts from the shelf, but if you could go over and check on the open stable and whether it needs mucking out, that would be great."

Kara moved towards the tools on the wall, and so Lena followed her request and took a peak over the wall into the stable. It was clean, no crap in sight. Luckily. When she came back to Kara, the blonde had picked up a long, thin tube from a box out of the shelf, and on the worktop before her laid a few strange looking screws.

"My bike, not Lux but my motorbike, broke down a week ago. I asked a friend if he knew the issue and he gave me some tips on what it might have caused. I want to fix it at some point when I have time." Kara looked up at Lena, a short smile flashing over her features. "Driving the roads with a bike around these parts is truly magical in good weather."

Lena hummed. She hadn't expected Kara to own a bike too, but the prospect of going for a ride tasted sweet. "I know a thing or two. I've gotten my license with my car one."

"You know how to ride?" Kara's face lit up.

"Technically, yes," Lena said. "I haven't been on a bike in four years though."

Kara waved her off, collecting the screws from the worktop into her trousers pocket. "Oh, don't worry, I'll help you out." She took a last glance around the shed. "Come on, let's get back and have some lunch."

Once Kara had disappeared to her office to start her work, Lena settled on the couch almost like a habit. Her body relaxed into the cushions like liquid metal. She felt the exhaustion that Kara had mentioned finally taking over, her muscles and limps heavy and drained. At home, she would have made a triple espresso and gotten to work. Here, cut off from the crucial emails, she didn't.

The now cloudy sky was glooming behind the windows' glass, creating a familiar atmosphere. The room was pleasantly heated, a warm cocoon whirling around her and lulling her into a weightless trance.

Something touched her hand, the cold wetness uncomfortable until Lena turned her head to see big brown eyes pleading at her. Lena couldn't help but grin stupidly, patting the cushions beside her gently. Maya climbed up in one elegant swoop and flopped down next to Lena's torso, her body curling into Lena's with a satisfied sigh.

So Lena let it happen, her hand wrapping over the dog's warm and soft form and stroking her until she drifted off into dreams, accompanied by faint dog snores.

"Lena," a whisper came, and Lena moved a bit in her position. Her back was stiff, her body tense as if she had been laying in the same position all day. She felt a soft touch on her shoulder, and then a second one to her neck. Her head was fogged, everything a bit dazed over like good wine did to her after 6 glasses, and the familiar care was more than welcome. 

She just loved Sam so much. This woman had done nothing but good for her, treating her like a human from day one and trusting her like no one had in years, if not in her entire life. 

Lena leaned into the touch, her lips parting in a comfortable sigh. "Sam," she whispered back softly, "just a moment longer, I promise."

"Lena, it's me." 

Lena halted, her brain fog clearing enough to form coherent thoughts. That wasn't Sam's voice. Her brows furrowed in an instant, and she breathed out before clawing her eyes open. The room was brighter than she had anticipated, way brighter than she would like. In regret she squeezed her eyes to thin slits to have a better look at the figure that moved and shifted above her. 

And then, the woman moved in between the bright source of light and Lena's sleepy eyes, and Lena was met with the sight of an angel. 

At least, that was her first thought. It so happened to be a blonde woman with broad shoulders and a soft grin, illuminated from behind by big windows. Lena's eyes adjusted, and the woman's features became clearer. It was Kara. 

Kara, who was leaned over her, her hands holding Lena's shoulders gently. Kara, whose face was hovering mere inches away from Lena's, an amused knot between her brows. Whose lips were plump pink and incredibly soft looking, tugged into a slack smile. Whose eyes were sparkling with a mixture of delight and adoration, an emotion Lena had so incredibly rarely been met with that her brain short circuited at the sight.

So much so that something, a strange unhinged tug of desire, whirled into the forefront of her conscience and stupidly suggested to her the most utterly shocking idea of all her outbursts.

She wanted to kiss Kara.

"Hi," Kara breathed, the whisper leaving a trail of warmth over Lena's cheeks.

Oh, she was screwed.

"You looked very cozy there, I'm sorry I pulled you from your slumber."

Lena had been very sure with herself that despite Kara's obviously attractive figure, she was not going to fall for the trap that was her unhinged smile. She was a businesswoman, for fucks sake. She knew how to handle challenges, and she was composed at all times. It was expected from her.

And yet, soft lips moved right before her eyes, and her body zapped with sensations she hadn't allowed herself to dwell on in years. "You can sleep later, but we need to feed the horses and goats first."

Was this the result of repressed emotions? Was she really going to fall for literally the first person she met after taking a break from the prison that was her life?

"Lena," Kara breathed like a prayer, and Lena almost whined. Oh god. This attempt at a relaxing summer was going to be so unbearable.

Chapter Text

No one noticed Lena's inner turmoil, and Lena almost had peace.

And then she stepped into Diana's stable and was promptly pushed back by a big head and warm eyes. The horse snorted lazily into Lena's work sweater, kindly readying it for the next wash.

"I know," Lena whispered stupidly at the dark furred animal. "I'm helpless. You didn't need to remind me."

Diana just nudged her with her nose, and Lena offered her a few treats.

"You need to keep it as our secret, okay?" Lena tried again, stroking softly over the warm muscles of Diana's neck.

The horse leaned into the touch, and Lena relaxed against the warm body. Affection was a weird thing, and Lena had never been good at it. Now she wondered if all she had been missing was a horse. A horse like Diana.

Lena was wrapped up in projects and innovative ideas, scribbling down into her notebook like a maniac when Kara knocked on her door. She groaned into the direction of the green wood, and Kara opened and stepped in.

"Dinner's ready," Kara offered, and Lena turned on her chair.

Kara stood in the doorway leaned against the frame, dressed in a loose sleeveless shirt and pair of dark blue jeans, the fabric snug against a body Lena was sure could be a model. Her hair was down, as it often was when they were inside the house, golden waves flowing around her face in ripples.

She was so effortlessly pretty, Lena clenched her teeth together in hopes to get the swirl in her stomach to stop.

"I made veggie lasagna, I hope you're a fan?" Kara asked, her eyes looking almost hopeful.

"I am, yes," Lena said, the sound of fresh warm food, especially a meal like homemade lasagna, watering her mouth. She closed her notebook and set down her pen, standing up in the graceful way she had practiced over years of office meetings.

Kara smiled softly when she approached, a spark glinting in her eyes. "I'm glad you're a normal person," she winked, the words tugging at a familiar ache.

Lena Luthor was anything but normal. But Kara didn't need to know that.

"Only monsters would say no to homemade lasagna," she said instead, with a heavy gaze.

The lasagna was phenomenal.

Lena had known good food ever since she was a child—the Luthor's didn't spare even a glance at anything that wasn't extraordinary—and so living with a personal chef for the entirety of her childhood and being engaged into the arts of cuisine at her boarding school, Lena was never surrounded by any less than good food. Leading a company and becoming a billionaire had her assistant invest in a private chef for her—again—so Lena never really thought about the quality of food, or the effort put into every part of a meal.

But here, now, with Kara standing in the kitchen twice a day and visibly cooking—her tongue poking out adorably when she was very focused—Lena felt herself transform. Her mind was starting to acknowledge and appreciate food, not just the quality, but the effort, and the love that Kara, as well as likely anyone in her life that had been preparing food for her, was putting into it. And it felt good. It felt human.

Like somehow, in a life filled with focus and progress, Lena had forgotten to admire and enjoy.

She missed Sam desperately, she realised as she was chewing on her third bite of pure heaven. She missed slow evenings and silly movie nights, when Ruby had to go to bed at 9 pm and Lena knew the girl was secretly standing just around the corner for the rest of the movie, making memories she never got to. She missed Ruby, too.

She missed that warm feeling in her chest when Sam gave her one of those looks, and the pleasant fog in her brain after too much of her favourite wine. She missed hugs, those that lasted too long and burned in her chest when they loosened, and she missed Jess' smiles when she wordlessly set a pristine container of lunch down on Lena's office desk at 4 pm. She missed the comfort of a silly TV show with disgustingly attractive characters endlessly pining over one another while Lena cuddled deeper into a tower of blankets and nibbled on kale chips.

She missed home, whatever that was.

Kara grumbled when Lena grabbed for a towel, but it was her only sign of protest, and after a moment, she wordlessly handed Lena her first dish to dry.

Kara had been wrong, and Lena could only smile at the thought, her hands wiping over the plate with the cotton kitchen towel.

It was so going to become a thing.

They settled on the balcony with coffee and tea again, this time the view brought a strange familiarity to Lena's senses. It was more cloudy than the evening before, the sun not properly peaking out between the thick grey blanket.

"In this weather, the actual sunset will be even better," Kara said with a lively glint in her eyes. She was hugging her mug of tea, legs pulled up onto the couch, somewhere inches away from Lena's under the blanket.

Lena didn't mind. The coffee was warm, tasteful and comforting, her head a bit heavy with exhaustion. Kara truly hadn't been lying when she said that the first days would be horror. Almost every part of her body ached, and she felt like sleep was all she needed.

"Do you ever ride them outside of your lands?" Lena heard herself ask. When Kara's brows only furrowed in confusion, she added, "The horses."

Kara took a sip of tea, slowly nodded. "There's a bridge over the river at the edge of my property, the footpath it follows leads to a path that I used to ride a lot. I don't ride on the road as I don't make my horses wear shoes, but sometimes I take them across the country for trips when my sister visits."

Lena smiled at the idea. "Your sister?"

Kara grinned, her head falling forward almost sheepishly. "Yeah. She's living across the ocean." One point for Sam. "She's very busy with her job though, so I don't get to see her much. It's a shame, we were very close growing up. I still love her the same, just sometimes, life drifts you apart, you know?"

Oh and Lena knew. But she wasn't going to talk about her brother, not where he was and neither where they had been, once. Years ago, decades even, a much younger Lena would have gladly talked about Lex, a proud smile on her face. Now, even the memories tasted bitter. "Yeah, I know."

Kara sighed heavily, the weight of their distance clearly weighing on her. She gazed off into the scenery, her eyes drifting over the hilly contours of the view. "I miss her. I miss my whole family, most days. I have friends here now, a life, a good one. But those people, their absence will never not sting at least a little."

Lena took another sip of her coffee. "I don't miss my family," she responded, and it came out harsher than intended.

Kara turned to her, brows furrowed. "Not a nice childhood, then?"

Lena shrugged. "You could say that." Sam had often enlightened her of how horrible she had truly been treated, and was continuously demonstrating to her how children were meant to be raised—with love and care—but still, Lena knew she had been lucky despite everything. "I don't dwell on it though," she cleared up, her eyes finding Kara with intensity. "I live a different life now, and while the traces of their pain will haunt me till the day I die, I wouldn't go back for redemption no matter what drove me."

Kara hummed, her lips closing around the edge of the mug enthrallingly. "How was your childhood then, if I may ask?"

Lena looked away, watching the dark grey clouds looming over them now. Somewhere in the distance the sun was clawing its way between the thick fog in the form of a low yellow halo. It would rain tonight, surely.

"I lived with my mother for the first four years of my life," she began, immediately fighting the lump forming in her throat. "I don't remember much of it, if I'm honest with myself, but it was the happiest time of my childhood, I'm sure." She paused, her breath coming out in a heavy sigh. Kara didn't know her, so Lena allowed her to know what not many were granted. "She drowned in a lake."

Kara sucked in a breath beside her, the heat of her gaze burning into the side of Lena's head. Lena didn't meet her eyes.

"I was adopted by a family I didn't know anything about shortly after. A couple and their son, a teenager at the time. They had—" she halted, because how does one explain the piercing gaze of Lilian Luthor combined with the looming presence of Lionel Luthor's disappointed frown to a normal person? "—standards," Lena tried. "Love was earned, not given, and even at my best, I didn't earn much of their love."

"Lena," Kara whispered from beside her, her voice barely held together by the pure horrification in it.

Lena closed her eyes, moving on. "My brother was the only person I could talk to. Relate to. He showed me things that my parents never would. He believed in me." She swallowed. "He turned out to be a psychopath."

Kara's breath staggered next to her, her body shifting on the couch. Lena didn't look.

"I became everything they wanted me to be. Then everything blew up in my face."

"Lena." Kara was much closer now, Lena could feel her presence illuminating warmth.

"I never want to see them again," she finished, the lump in her throat thick and aching. She swallowed hard around it.

A gentle touch sneaked around her cheek, fingers sliding over her skin and pulling her head from the view. Lena squeezed her eyes shut when she turned her head towards Kara, following the lead of her hand. Kara's thumb drew a soft pattern over her skin, and only when a second hand came up to wipe under her other eye did Lena realise that she was crying silent tears.

Kara was there, with a gentle touch and a whisper of her name.

Lena opened her eyes only slowly, the stinging in them unmistakable. Oh god, how utterly pathetic she must look.

But Kara was smiling, and she was nodding in a weirdly soothing way, and Lena learned to breathe again. Kara's eyes were honest, laced with a care that Lena only ever saw in Sam's. Something in her chest tugged painfully, a burning urge in her core to do something—feel something—that would distract her from this.

Kara was so close, her blue eyes so deep and open that Lena got lost. Her gaze dipped lower, landing on soft pink lips.

For fucks sake, Lena.

The lips tugged into the hint of a grin, and Lena's gaze snapped back up. Kara's eyes fluttered between her own, her thumbs halting on Lena's cheek, her expression growing serious as her brows twitched in realisation.

Lena bit her lip, her teeth pressing into the flesh in an attempt to hold onto her self control. Kara was so goddamn close.

At the movement, Kara glanced down. Interesting.

Lena breathed out heavily, her eyes falling away and her head pulling back slightly. Kara's hands let go, slowly dropping between their bodies. Kara was hunched over Lena, basically straddling her lap over the blanket, and suddenly Lena could feel the heat from Kara's lean body wafting towards her own, their proximity so much closer than she usually let people go.

And yet, her body wasn't wishing Kara away. It was urging Kara to be closer.

"I'm sorry for how you were treated," Kara said, not moving from Lena's lap, her open hair flowing around her neck. "You didn't deserve any of the things that happened to you."

Lena suppressed the scoff. Kara barely knew her. So why did it sting so much, to hear those words? When she knew that she truly was a Luthor, and nothing could change that, how could she ever believe Kara was telling a truth?

Lena set her jaw, her eyes meeting Kara's. Gosh, she was so beautiful it was ridiculous. Lena was beginning to think this was all part of a grand plan from Sam to get her laid, and that Kara was the first model she could find that said yes to pretend innocence, flirty looks and way too much money.

But she knew that Sam wouldn't do that, and her gut told her that she could trust those sky blue eyes gleaming back at her.

Lena sighed, flashing Kara a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Kara stared back, her brows furrowing with something that looked like concern. Lena glanced away, her eyes finding back to the now orange orb that was peaking out from under the clouds across the hills.

When she turned back, a question that would change the topic and remove some tension already halfway across her mouth, she was suddenly hit with a warm blow, an impact that toppled her backwards against the armrest of the couch. She grunted into the motion, her body adjusting to Kara's, pressed up close to her while strong arms had wrapped themselves around her torso.

The hug was tight, and warm, and gentle, in the way that Kara seemed to be gentle with everything. And oh god, she was going to cry again. Her eyes stung as she lifted her arms, wrapping herself around sturdy shoulders, and a desperate, way too raw sigh slipped out between her lips, hovering in the static air around them like a secret.

Lena had never been a hugger. She didn't do hugs, and she tried to avoid handshakes as much as she could, too. Maybe it developed in boarding school when the other girls picked on her for being a nerd, telling every student that she had a strange disease that could spread by touch. Maybe it developed in university when her first boyfriend only touched her to prove that he didn't hate it. Maybe it was after Lex was prosecuted, when businessmen as well as friends turned their back, no one even daring to step close to her. Lena didn't know why she hated the idea of being hugged, and why she tensed when Sam pulled her so tight her feet left the ground, but she had always felt hugs were better in theory than they could be in practice.

That was, until she got hugged by Kara.

Kara didn't leave room for uncertainty, or discomfort, or that hint of disgust that people around her carried in their demeanor. She didn't squash Lena like a fly, she didn't force her down. She was simply there. Pressed close, with warm and comforting arms wrapping around Lena's body with intent, but a tenderness to her grip that gave in the second Lena attempted to push her off.

Lena didn't.

Kara leaned back slowly after what felt like forever, her arms sneaking around Lena's waist carefully, like she was delicate.

Her gaze was filled with concern, Lena could tell that immediately, but Kara didn't seem overwhelmed by it. Her fingers found Lena's hand, brushing over her skin softly. She was still so close, and it made Lena a little dizzy.

"I hope that was okay," Kara whispered, her eyes not leaving their entwined hands in Lena's lap.

Lena breathed deeply around another swirl of emotion inside her chest, the honest concern in Kara's expression to how Lena was feeling being more unfamiliar than she would like.

"It was," Lena breathed, holding Kara's gaze. She wanted Kara to see her now, to know that it was, in fact, okay. That it had been, and that it would be, in the future.

Because Lena definitely wanted to hug Kara again in the future.

Kara smiled softly back at her, shifting her weight off of Lena's body. She leaned back on the couch, letting go of Lena's hands in the process. When Kara slipped her legs back under the blanket, her calves brush along Lena's and—stayed.

Kara turned her head towards the sunset and sighed contently. Lena followed her example, letting her eyes settle on a now bright orange sky. The sun was almost gone between the hills, its last rays bathing the whole balcony in a low glow. Lena could see the way the light caught in Kara's hair, and she had to force herself not to turn her head and just stare. Instead, she watched the light dance across the underside of the clouds, her entire body slowly relaxing into the cushions.

She was drained, both physically and mentally. It had been barely two days of labour—and not particularly hard labour–to bring Lena Luthor to her emotional edge. She wasn't sure if it was the countryside that had done it, with all its green and birdsongs and the smell of flowers and weeds, or maybe the animals and their endless love, especially the way Maya immediately accepted her and asked for cuddles. Or maybe, Lena suspected, it had been Kara.

Maybe Kara was the cause of her emotional exhaustion, the way she silently dismantled all the walls Lena kept up and tight with just a soft smile and unquestioning faith in the goodness of Lena's heart. And maybe that's what it was—that Kara didn't see her as the sister of a murderer, but as a person. That Kara didn't care for where she had come from or what her last name was. That all that mattered was who she decided to be.

Maybe all that Lena ever needed, and ever asked for, was to be heard and to be seen.

Lena stole a glance at Kara, careful and silent, and was met by the endless depth of sky blue orbs. Kara was wearing a soft smile, but her eyes were blooming with something deeper than that. She lifted a hand and drew it through her golden waves, not breaking eye contact.

"I told you the sunset would be beautiful."

Lena woke to a strange tug in her chest, and the heavy clattering of rain against her windows.

She didn't remember dreaming, but her body was tense from fervent longing.

She didn't know for what.

Kara was in the kitchen already when she came in, her back turned to the doors. The whole living space was an entirely different atmosphere now, with dark clouds hanging behind the wide windows and thick streaks of rain rattling down. It was like the light was sucked out of the space, and yet, plenty of low light lamps around the place turned it into a cozy sanctuary.

Lena stepped across the wooden planks in her socked feet, and Kara turned at the motion.

"Lena! Good morning," she chirped, her eyes glinting in the faint light. "I'm just cutting apples for apple pancakes. Settle down on the couch. There's no point gathering around the table when I'll be at the stove anyways."

"Okay, Kara," Lena said, her eyes darting to the couch that was already occupied by a big caramel furball.

"Hi Maya," she whispered when she approached, and the dog's tail started wagging immediately. Maya only slowly lifted her head when Lena came close, and as Lena sat down beside the dog, Maya sat up and moved closer to Lena, her head draping over Lena's thigh.

"I honestly was surprised that we had so long without rain," Kara said from the kitchen. She had moved to the stove on the kitchen island now, a pan spread out while the bowl of dough stood close. "Usually it rains more frequently, especially at this time of the year."

"This is quite heavy rain," Lena responded, her eyes dragging over the pour down behind the glass. "I don't think I'm equipped with the right clothing for this weather, to be honest."

"That's okay," Kara exclaimed, grinning wide, "I have some spare coats and overtrousers that I'll lend you gladly. You will need them at some point anyway, because this isn't the worst rain I've seen."

Lena gulped, her body sinking deeper into the warm and dry couch. She stroked Maya's head mindlessly as Kara prepared apple pancakes.

"This is the perfect weather for a movie night, though," Kara said as she set a place of steaming apple pancakes down in front of Lena, "If you're interested, that is." She was smiling that wide, careless grin, and Lena wondered if truly anything in her life could make her say no to movie night with Kara.

"I suppose I could be convinced to something like that," Lena smiled back.

The rain protective clothes Kara lent her were too big. Lena felt ridiculous in them, like a hot air balloon floating behind Kara to the stables, but Kara grinned so wide when she saw Lena for the first time in them that Lena couldn't bring herself to be embarrassed.

And honestly? They were brilliant.

The rain fell off of the jacket in perfect pearls, despite the sheer quantity of water hammering down on them, and the overtrousers kept her warm and her actual trousers dry. Lena felt like a hot air balloon, but she also felt embraced like a warm hug, and shielded like only Sam's protective stance did.

They brushed the horses inside their stables, and Lena got to get to know Ernie more. His creme fur was clean, but wet and darkened because of the rain. He enjoyed the brush that Lena gave him, if his twitching lip and the stretched neck were as much of an indicator as Kara had said. And he was insistent on getting his fair share of treats, pawing at the bedding when Lena forgot to reward him for standing still while she brushed his tail and mane carefully.

When they finished, Kara showed Lena waterproof rugs in the tack room, which were stored in one of the boxes on the shelf. She patiently guided Lena on how to put them on the horses, and watched her as Lena tried herself on Ernie.

They let the horses and goats out and went back through the garden, getting into the house through the back entrance. Kara was grinning wide when they peeled out of their rain clothes, hanging them onto the coathanger by the door.

Kara made hot chocolate, and Lena didn't have the heart to tell her that she didn't like hot chocolate. When she tried it, she found that she wasn't as opposed as she remembered to be, and when Kara retreated to work in her office, and Lena curled up on the couch alone, she hugged the mug tight and caught herself waiting for Kara to come back.

They fed the horses in the evening, and it was still raining. Kara was looking at Lena more than usual, she was sure. The rain had brought concerned glances and even mellower smiles, or maybe it had been the sunset the night before.

"Is it okay if we order food tonight?" Kara asked as they walked back to the tack room after finishing caring for the horses and checking on the goats. "I don't really feel like cooking tonight, and this weather always makes me hungry for my favourite snack."

Lena couldn't help but smile amusedly at Kara's dreamy eyes, and she laughed, "Yeah, of course." She was the queen of takeout after all.

So when they settled back in the house, Kara ordered food for them, and when she came to join Lena on the couch, she sat closer than usual.

Kara let Lena go through her streaming service to look for a good movie, and Lena felt a little funny, scrolling through rows of children's cartoons and romance movies. She should have guessed it, really. She should have known that ray-of-sunshine Kara would enjoy a feel-good story rather than true crime, or the thrillers Lena watched with Sam when Ruby was sleeping at a friend's house.

Still, something inside her lit aflame at the confirmation, and she weirdly felt like it made her like Kara more.

They barely heard the doorbell between the heavy thunder that the rain had turned into, the drops now practically bashing against the windows. Kara had made the living space all the more cozy in return, soft light and well scented candles bathing the room in a welcoming hull.

Kara got up wriggling excitedly, and Maya stirred from her slumber as well, her tail swinging at the pure joy that her owner was emitting.

"I'll take care of it, wait here." And then she was gone, and Lena was left with a flutter between her ribs.

If she had a tail, it may have wagged at that point, she thought, looking at Maya.

Kara's favourite snack was potstickers.

She was claiming them like a prize, her eyes glowing, and Lena couldn't help but find it endearing. Lena herself had ordered a bowl of noodles.

The TV played a movie Kara had done an excited gasp about when Lena scrolled through the watchlist, and Lena found comfort watching love unfold on the screen as her stomach filled with well seasoned warm food and her head was replaying the past few days like a broken record, a personal cinema for that weird lump in her chest that kept swirling.

Kara had sat down closer again, Maya curled up snug between them, and the gesture gently hinted at Lena that it was, in fact, intentional. That Kara wanted to sit this close to Lena.

Lena swallowed heavily, chewing around her food. Kara was fixed on the TV, her eyes blooming with that familiar low glow. And Lena was staring, but not at the screen ahead.

Only when the credits rolled in did Lena wake from her strange sort of trance, and when Kara smiled widely as she scrambled off the couch, the bubble they had spent the duration of the movie in popped.

Kara scratched over Maya's head before making her way over to the kitchen to put her trays away, and Lena had a sudden urge to ask for anything or initiate a conversation just so that their night didn't end yet. It was still relatively early, and while Lena had enjoyed the movie, she really wanted to spend more time with the other woman.

But before she could open her mouth to ask, Kara called from the kitchen, "Do you want a hot chocolate?"

The second one today? A voice in Lena's brain chimed, one that sounded way too much like Lilian. "Yes," she answered without a breath of hesitation.

Kara smiled. "Coming right up."

So they settled back on the couch, the TV screen now lifeless and the sound of the rain the background playlist for their conversation. Kara had tucked her legs up on the couch, her body slumped into the backrest while her head was held up by her hand. Her gaze was on Lena, blonde waves flowing down the side of her face as she sipped from her cup. Lena leaned into the backrest herself, letting her body be cradled by the couch.

"You're like, the first helper that has said yes to movie night this early in," Kara said wistfully.

"Really?" Lena was as surprised as she sounded—Who would seriously say no to movie night with someone like Kara?—, her brows rising as she took a sip from the hot drink.

"Yeah," Kara sighed. After a moment she timorously glanced back at Lena and added, "Not that I'm like—upset or anything about that. Everyone has the right to go at their own pace. People just usually keep away and to themselves for much longer."

"Hm," Lena hummed, her gaze drifting to the windows, tracing the drops racing down the glass. She didn't know what exactly drew her in about Kara, but she knew either she was severely love and touch starved, or these people that Kara had over to help her had been very antisocial. Even in her low periods, Lena was sure she wouldn't be able to deny that grin of Kara's anything. "I suppose I haven't met anyone like you in a long time," Lena said instead.

Kara's eyes flashed with a spark of something, the trace leaving a flutter in Lena's chest, but it was gone as soon as it appeared. "Well, I'm glad you're here," Kara smiled softly.

Lena smiled back carefully. This was all strange, new territory. She didn't know the rules or the boundaries for people who didn't utterly despise her. "I'm glad I am here too." She let her gaze drift over the dimly lit interior of the living space. "Also because this is one of the most beautiful homes I've had the honour to enter, and I've seen quite a few."

Kara's cheeks painted a faint pink, and her lashes fluttered down at the compliment. "Well, thank you."

"If I'm honest, I still find it hard to believe that you apparently built it yourself."

"I had help," Kara argued.

"How much?" Lena shot.

"Two friends."

A moment of silence passed, the rain thundering even louder through it.

Lena scoffed, raising her cup almost like a good glass of wine in habit. "Sure, 'Miss DIY'."

Kara huffed out a laugh at that. She smiled at Lena, but didn't argue her point. "It isn't as hard as people believe it to be, you know? You just have to stick to a plan and go at it with patience and consideration for the weather."

"I'm sure it's a pleasure to build walls and set roofs in rain like this," Lena said sarcastically, her cup tipping towards the windows to their left, the view down the driveway and the hills behind blurred by thick streaks of precipitation.

"No, you wouldn't work in rainfall if the house isn't set. The walls need room to dry, and getting them wet inside before they are even properly raised is a fatal mistake." Kara said it like one of those realtors that tried to sell Lena their condo buildings, but her eyes were serious, filled with a determination to explain instead of dominate. She wanted Lena to understand, not to be silent. "We laid the plans for the build out in spring, and underestimated the amount of rain that falls here even in summer. But Winn and James were really nice, and they even took weeks off to help get as much done as possible in the dry periods."

"Winn and James," Lena repeated, more to herself and louder than intended, but Kara lit up at the names.

"Yes! They are both lovely, I'm sure you'd like them."

And welp, there was the hit to Lena's head, the clear stroke to her sanity. Why did Kara have to be so open and nonchalant about everything? Did people here not have principles? 

Lena took another sip from her hot chocolate, ignoring how okay she was with the taste now. "How long have you been friends?" she asked courteously.

Kara frowned at that, seemingly considering the question with a serious demand. "I think it's been about 7 years now." After a moment she nodded in confirmation. "Yes, I'm sure. I was 24 when I moved from the States over here and bought the land, and like nice neighbours, I got to see both their faces in the first week. We got along very well, and when I opened up to both of them about my plans to build the house, they were immediately supportive and offered help."

It wasn't that Kara was only slightly older than her—she had guessed it by the way Kara looked and acted upon their first meeting—that made Lena feel like jelly, no, it was that this was the confirmation that Kara had missed all of Lex's trials. That Kara, while having lived in the States to some extent, had not been exposed to the truth of Lex Luthor's cruelty, and despite Lena being a prominent face not just in National City but all across, revealing her identity wouldn't scare Kara away as much as it has anyone else she'd known. The thought made her heart flutter strangely. With Kara, she could truly be just Lena, not worried about what the actions of her family might change about the light in which Kara was seeing her.

"It was a bit tense for a year after the house was finished, because both of them helplessly hinted that they were romantically interested in me," Kara continued, and Lena's focus zoned right back in. Winn and James, huh? Romantically interested. She didn't know why it didn't feel right with her even thinking about it. Likely because Kara was such a strong, independent woman. "Once I revealed to them that I wasn't feeling the same about either of them, we didn't do much for a while. Winn was the first to come around, and he said he treasured the friendship we had more than potential feelings. I got to see James again when he had a girlfriend, and with her came a few other really nice people in town that I got to know and call my friends." Kara smiled fondly at the memories, her head tilted forward as she looked at her hand caressing Maya.

"Sounds like you have quite a few friends," Lena smiled back at her.

"I do," Kara agreed. "I'm lucky to have all these people that I love and care about."

Lena hummed, her gaze darting to the windows.

"I'll have them come around soon, I'm happy to introduce you." Kara smiled effortlessly. Then, after a moment of silence she added, "If you'd like."

"Yeah," Lena said. New people were a risk. One of them might have watched the news enough, and this bubble would pop. "Maybe."

Kara didn't comment on the hesitation, she just nodded in agreement. Lena let the silence drag, her mind fogged and her body feeling like lead. She was so exhausted, despite the unusually excessive amount of sleep she had been getting. The hot chocolate warmed her inside out, and she welcomed the embracing feeling gladly.

Minutes passed as they sat and listened to the storm outside their safe space, Maya snoring faintly between them. Kara had finished her drink, the corner of her mouth tugged upwards slightly in content. Lena closed her eyes, letting herself feel truly for the first time in months.

Kara was kind, welcoming and bright. She was here, and she liked Lena. Lena was liked, and appreciated. Her presence was wanted. She was needed, here. It was a strange feeling, but one that nested deep in her heart nonetheless. And she let it unfold, swallowed around the lump in her throat. She tried to grasp the concept, tried to teach her brain that the fear that had been driving her wasn't at place here.

And Kara was there, oblivious but present throughout Lena's internal turmoil, scratching the dog between them.

Chapter Text

The following few days went by at a steady pace. Lena spent her free time reading and mentally preparing for the flutter in her chest whenever Kara returned to her. The work with the animals became easier, feeling more like a routine with every passing day. She wasn't as exhausted anymore, her head a bit clearer and her self confidence pouring back into her body after plenty of times handling the animals. She knew them better now, and her slowed nerves definitely helped keep the horses more at ease. Kara was just as joyful as ever, her eyes gleaming.

On Thursday, Kara asked as they were having dinner, "I'll be going into town tomorrow to get some groceries and run some errands. Would you like to come with me?"

Lena didn't have to think long about it. "Yes, I'd love to."

"We can make it a proper trip, if you'd like. Considering you're here to see the country, I can take you around."

Lena contemplated it, thinking whether asking that of Kara was too much. But Kara's smile was hopeful, and at the offer, Lena didn't really see herself saying no to Kara Danvers any day. "That would be really nice. If it's not too much of a hassle for you."

"It would be my honour," Kara smiled. "But you know you're also free to take the car on trips of your own. The keys are in the cupboard by the front door."

Lena stared at her, aghast. "What?"

"You can use the car."

"Kara, I've been here barely a week." Lena said, brows furrowed.

Kara shrugged. "So what?"

"You don't know me. Why do you trust me with your car? Who says I'm not driving off with it at the first possible moment?"

"That's literally what I just told you you're free to do," Kara frowned.

"No—Kara, I mean drive off as in steal it," Lena emphasised.

Kara just scoffed, laughing. "Lena, that's absurd. You wouldn't do that."

"How would you know?" Lena pushed, her head thick with thoughts. No one had ever given her a fragment of the trust Kara had just served on a silver platter. Lena Luthor didn't get the benefit of the doubt. She never had, and never would.

"Lena," Kara said in a voice that sounded way too much like Sam's placatory sighs, "I know you. I've been around you, I see how you act. I see who you are."

Oh god. This was bad. Had she seriously manipulated Kara this early on without even intending to?

"I have spent my time around quite a few people in my life, and I've learned to trust my gut. The helpers I've had are all different people. Some of them are easygoing, some are straightforward, others tend to be lazy, and I've had two reckless people in this house, too. I can tell within the first 24 hours whether my helper can stay, and I know by day four what kind of person they want to be around me. You," Kara emphasized, her eyes brutally honest, "are not a thief, or suspicious in those ways."

Or maybe, she hadn't?

Lena swallowed, something in her stomach weighing heavy that was definitely not her dinner. “So, what kind of person do I want to be around you, then?” she distracted.

Kara just grinned. “Someone that's giving.”

Lena was too stunned to come up with anything smart to respond.

“So please, listen when I tell you this: You’re free to do whatever in the house. That includes the kitchen, by the way, as well as the rotting room.” Kara stared at her with an expression that read Do you hear me? and nodded slowly in encouragement. “And you’re free to use the car. Just give me a heads up before you drive off.”

Lena swallowed. Life was strange. "Yeah," she nodded. "Thank you."

"No need," Kara chirped, smiling bright.

Friday rolled in soon enough, and Lena woke with an unmatched enthusiasm. Not because she felt the need to get away from the farm, but because she wanted to see more of the country and get driven around by Kara.

Kara seemed to share her enthusiasm, or maybe she was just as chippy as always—Lena couldn't tell. They cared for the animals in the morning and Kara made lunch, a quick mashup of leftovers. And then it was time to get ready for town.

Lena, despite the voice in her head telling her to dress in clothes she knew would draw Kara's eyes in—or really just anyone's, it wasn't like she was interested in having Kara's eyes on her body—decided on a plain blouse and dark slacks. In her office, it would've been attire considered too informal for a meeting. But here, the rules were clearly different. And while she may just be the torch in a cave in town in an outfit like this—with the chance of people around to recognise her, she couldn't take any risks of looking unpresentable to the public.

Kara was wearing a flannel of course. She was leaned up against her own door when Lena came out of her room, a loose smile on her face. Her hair was tied back into a messy high ponytail and her work trousers were switched out for light blue jeans.

"Ready?" The blonde asked.

Lena nodded, wiping imaginable dust off her slacks.

"There's a slight drizzle, so we'll get in the car through the garage. No need to get unnecessarily wet," Kara winked.

Kara opened the door to the car for Lena, and Lena scolded the silly thoughts that it could mean anything. Kara was a gentleman through and through, and doing nice things had nothing to do with Lena and everything to do with who Kara was as a person.

The drive was peaceful, the rain a soothing thrumming against the windshield, the wipers going in regular motions. Lena leaned back in her seat, her hand finding the adjustments on the side to let the backrest down a bit further.

Driving with Kara was just as calm as it had been the first time, the blonde woman being gentle with both the pedals and the wheel. She was a skilled driver, no doubt. Kara steered the wagon around tight corners and slim streets like a professional, the car never leaning too much or groaning under her demands.

After an undefined amount of time, Lena blinked out of the window and was met with the first houses leading up to town. It looked cozy. The further the wagon rolled into the town's streets, the closer the houses stood together. In the centre, the houses were practically hugging, walls pushed together tightly, each one no more than two stories high. The streets were rather empty—understandably, considering the weather—but most of the stores that were nooked into the bottom part of the houses showed signs of being open, soft lights illuminating the soaked streets left and right.

Kara parked the wagon in between a few other cars on the side of the road, her fingers curling around the keys as she turned the engine off. She was still smiling, clearly unbothered by the faint rain. Her head turned and blue eyes found Lena, a distant flicker in them.

"Would you like to go shopping or exploring first?" Kara asked.

Lena contemplated only for a moment. "Shopping. I have hopes the rain will be less once we're done."

Kara grinned amusedly, "I bet against that."

Lena learned that the town had two grocery stores—one rather huge, mainstream chain and a smaller, local supplier. Kara steered right for the local supplier, and Lena was only one step behind.

The store, as had the pub in Galway, had hanging buckets overflowing with flowers adorning its facade, and a general cozy look to it. Kara pushed the dark wooden door open and Lena followed her into the dry inside. The store was indeed rather small, but surprisingly to Lena, the vegetable section was big. Kara steered them right towards it, snatching a basket on the go.

While they started picking out food, Lena felt oddly like a child trotting behind its mother. Not that she had ever been shopping with Lilian when she was younger—or that she could remember ever doing so with her mom—but the situation felt somewhat familiar, despite her inexperience.

"Do you think we could make pizza on Sunday?" Kara asked as they passed a display of peppers.

"Homemade?"

"Yeah," Kara agreed, a soft smile on her face. "Dough and everything. Would you be up for that?"

It had been too long since Lena had a proper pizza night—homemade from scratch—and she couldn't even remember if she had ever done one with Sam in the three years that they've grown to know each other. Her soul was basically aching for homemade pizza, even if not for the pizza, but the event itself. "I'd love that," she assured Kara.

They strolled on, Kara's smile now looking satisfied and easy. The shop wasn't entirely empty, and on any other occasion, Lena would be worried by that, but the atmosphere led her to relax, and the people they passed seemed unbothered by her existence to an extent she had never experienced before. Kara was right there though, steady and grounding.

They stocked up on other things from Kara's list, and Kara would sneak up to Lena every once in a while with some kind of treat hooked between her fingers and a mischievous smile on her lips. "We're buying this," Kara would say, and Lena could only grin and nod and hope that the tug in her chest didn't stay.

At the register, the cashier greeted Kara with a warm, amiable smile. "You here?", the young woman said.

Kara laughed freely, her head falling back and her hair flowing down her shoulders effortlessly. "Come on, Nia," Kara grinned, "you sound like I never visit."

The young woman—Nia—raised both her eyebrows, the package of cookies—one of Kara's treats—still in her hands, hovering above the scanner. "I haven't seen you in two weeks!" Nia exclaimed.

"Well, I was a bit busy, and I did stop by, you were simply not working that day."

Nia didn't seem too satisfied with that answer, but she didn't seem upset either. "Whatever, Kara, you're here now," Nia waved her off with the hand that held the cookies, and the motion caused the register to scan the item and beep happily in return. Nia ignored that, putting the cookies away and gesturing towards Lena, who had stopped a meter or so away, not intending to intrude in familiar conversations. "So, who's your new friend?"

"Nia, meet Lena," Kara said excitedly, gesturing towards Lena as well, "she's my new helper." Kara turned to Lena, a comforting smile on her lips.

"Hi," Lena offered.

"Hi," Nia returned, her expression harmless. "So you're the one that's been keeping Kara busy this whole time?"

The insinuation immediately painted Lena's cheeks, but before she could defend herself or stutter a stupid 'What?', Kara chipped, "You know it's loads of work with the horses, and getting to know everyone." The blonde woman was completely oblivious to what Lena knew almost certainly had been implied by the brunette. "I didn't find the time to get into town until now."

Nia dragged her raised brows away from Lena after another beat, her focus back on Kara, "Well, it's nice to have you here now." She continued scanning the items on the belt, "And it would also be nice to hear from you every now and then. Just a text that you're alive, Kara. With all those news about wolves around, and you living so far away and alone—"

"I won't get eaten by a wolf, Nia," Kara laughed, "and besides, I'm not alone right now."

"Yeah," Nia agreed, her gaze flicking to Lena for a blink.

"I'll keep in touch," Kara promised her nonetheless.

They paid and left the store with two bags of goods, which Kara refused to hand to Lena even as she was struggling to fish her car keys out of her pocket. The drizzle was still going—despite Lena's hopes—and the sky hadn't cleared either, a dark grey blanket looming over them. Kara was totally unbothered.

Kara loaded the groceries away and closed the boot. "I need to stop by the hardware store and the garage for some parts for my bike, the walk goes through the center. Care to join?"

Lena nodded, "Sure."

And so they strolled back down the streets towards the low glooming stores and flowery facades. They passed a pub that looked quite nice—Lena took a peak through the window—and Kara assured her that out of the three, it was the best in town. Lena made a mental note to come back to it later.

As they walked on, they passed a flower shop, a cozy looking bookstore, a perfectly town sized pharmacy and a museum before the street opened into a square in front of them. It was rather small, three transporters occupying the space and leaving not much room to walk in between, their backs opened to market stands selling fresh vegetables and fruits.

"Oh, wow," Lena breathed at the clean and raw display of food in its natural form, no beauty sorting over crooked carrots and funky peppers. Kara was right, the food did look funny.

"This is the market. It's not much, but it's fresh, reliable and local, and the prices are better than what you can get in the stores. Over the weekend, the second hand store from two towns over sends a truck out to put things on display, I enjoy looking through those too."

"It's lovely," Lena smiled politely.

Kara grinned back. "I agree." Kara led them through the trucks to the other end of the square. "The hardware store is just around this corner."

Kara stepped into the wide store first, turning and holding the door open for Lena to follow, and Lena was greeted with that same soft smile that she had already gotten used to.

"Thank you," Lena slightly bowed her head before looking up and taking the store in.

Kara turned and led them down one of the aisles, steady and sure where she needed to go. Lena followed without question, both because she never visited these kinds of stores and because she had a feeling that Kara knew exactly what she was doing. And maybe also because it felt good to have someone take control and lead the way for once. Lena had been in a position of power and influence for so long, not being the decision maker almost felt like freedom.

Kara stopped by a shelf displaying hinges, and Lena waited as the blonde contemplated and compared the items on display.

"We need to fix a gate near the bridge at the edge of my property, and those will come in handy with that." Kara wasn't even looking at her as she explained, her hands holding two versions of a hinge that looked stupidly identical to Lena.

"Okay," Kara said decidedly, putting one of the hinges back and grabbing a pair of the others, "let's go get a toy for Maya and then it's the garage."

The toys were located near the register, industrial lights illuminating an older man behind the counter. Kara ignored him as she made her way to the rack, her fingers finding a rather plushy toy.

"What do you think?", she asked, blue eyes finding Lena.

Lena contemplated for a moment. "I don't really know enough about dogs, or Maya, to make that decision," she answered.

Kara just grinned. "Okay, but what do you think of it?"

"I think it's plushy?" Lena answered, slightly confused.

Kara huffed in a way that sounded almost disappointed. "I think it's cute."

Lena took a closer look, stepping in to see the small plush in its full glory. "Well, yeah. It's a seal, and it's plushy. You'd expect it to be fabricated to look appeasing."

"Lena," Kara laughed, her eyes looking amused. "Why do you sound so scientific about a toy?"

Kara was close—only because Lena had to step in to take a look at the toy—and Lena was suddenly a bit overwhelmed. Kara didn't look judging, but what Lena did find in her gaze was even scarier—Kara was seeing her. She had told Lena before, but now Lena could see it, was met with a curious and utterly dismantling look that seemed to phase right through her walls.

"I have a feeling there's a nerd hiding behind these green eyes," Kara said in what could be considered an attempt at being smug but only sounded endearing.

Lena felt weirdly out of control, with her cheeks heating and her fingertips tickling with an urge to fumble. Lena Luthor didn't fumble. She really needed to get a grip. "I have a science degree so I suppose I'd hope to be at least a bit of a nerd."

Kara's brows raised at that. "You have a science degree?", she asked curiously.

Lena waved her off, "It's not worth mentioning." Interest meant research, and research would sooner rather than later lead Kara to something Lena didn't want her to see. It was best she kept quiet about everything here.

"I don't believe that, but it's okay if you rather not talk about it." Kara smiled her soft smile again and Lena almost melted. "Now let's go make a dog happy."

They only meant to stop by the garage shortly, but then Kara ran into someone that she obviously knew, and stuck they were. Lena kept her distance—as she had before—out of simple respect. It wasn't her conversation, and it wouldn't be hers anytime soon.

That was, until Kara turned and smiled at her encouragingly, "Lena, come over and meet J'onn."

Lena stepped forward carefully, her belly tugging with a strange worry that any step could get her foot stuck in a trap. "Hello," she greeted the older man courteously.

"Hello to you too," he said, his voice deep and warm. "You are a friend of Kara?"

Lena shot a glance to the blonde before nodding with a polite but genuine smile. "I am, yes. I'm helping her out."

"Very nice," J'onn said, his smile just as genuine. "We were just catching up on her latest troubles with her beloved," the man explained, "I know a thing or two about that."

Lena felt a sting somewhere beneath her ribs, and as soon as it surfaced, she knew it was out of place. Just because Kara hadn't mentioned having a partner didn't mean that she was single, and just because Lena was her helper didn't mean Kara was obligated to inform her about her relationship status. It was Lena who kept assuming, so really, this punch in the gut was deserved to some extent. It stung despite her voice of justice.

"Oh, okay." Lena took a careful step backwards, the urge to physically get away stronger than usual, "I won't bother you then."

Kara's brows furrowed as her eyes were scanning Lena's expression with that dismantling look again, and Lena almost wished she wasn't so obvious. "I'm confused," Kara said, her gaze flicking between Lena's eyes, "I thought you said you ride, too."

Oh. Oh.

Oh, god, Lena, you're so stupid. Of course. That's why they were here. Kara's beloved bike.

Lena tried to make her realisation not too obvious. "Yes, right. I do." She stepped back in, a spark of new confidence gathering within her. "What exactly is the issue with it?"

As it turned out, J'onn wasn't just a bit knowledgeable about bikes, he knew quite a lot. He was patient in listening to Kara's problem, and remained just as calm when he explained where the issue might lie and what steps would be necessary to take. Lena picked up a lot from him, not just the contents of what he said, but also, how. His words were thoughtfully laid out, his gestures were explanatory, but not pushing. He didn't make either of them feel bad for not knowing what he did, and the way his eyes were gleaming with quiet pride as he listened to Kara reciting what she understood from his solution hit deep in Lena's chest.

Lena knew how rich Kara was, then, looking at J'onn's gaze filled with kindness and care. Lena knew that Kara had someone amazing in her life, someone that cared deeply and loved her openly. Not as a partner or friend, but as a guardian. A father figure. A shield for the bad and a source for good. J'onn nodded, visibly satisfied at Kara's reciting, and Lena knew they were so lucky.

And Lena was lucky, to stand beside Kara and witness the love that surrounded her with her own eyes.

Back in the car, Kara turned the radio up, a content smile on her face. The rain was gently thrumming against the car's shell like it had before, and the darkness behind the windows made Lena feel cozy and comfortable, like she was wrapped up in a warm, fuzzy blanket.

A blanket that she was sharing with Kara.

The weather outside also made her feel closer to Kara—more connected. Or maybe, that was due to their previous conversations, and the way Kara had invited Lena to meet the people she cared about without hesitation or question. Either way, Lena let her back relax into the passenger seat as Kara gently maneuvered the wagon out of its parking space and back onto the slim town roads.

The town was dimmer now, despite it being barely afternoon. The shops weren't closed, but the town looked almost deserted. Near the outskirts, Lena spotted the first person since getting back in the car, a man walking his dog. The houses spread apart after that, drifting behind trees and looming over meadows. The countryside came back as quickly as it had left, and Lena was swiftly reminded that she wasn't in the city anmore—hadn't been for a week.

She thought of it more then, of the trees that passed, the birdsongs that were inaudible beneath the thrumming of rain on the windshield and the soft tunes of the radio filling the car. Lena thought of wet morning grass, the smell of horses and pancakes, of cozy blankets and soft cushions. Somewhere along the main road Kara steered down, Lena's thoughts drifted to her host. To blonde waves framing a flawless face, and how none of that mattered because the only thing Lena was truly so obsessed with was Kara's joy for life itself, and not her own beauty. That Lena, despite having stayed in the strange house in a strange country barely a week, was enarmoured with a person she didn't know long enough to identify blind, and yet, the tug in her chest remained.

Lena didn't turn to Kara during her thinking, of course. She looked out of the window, tracing the drops on their way down, and eventually, she began to wonder if Kara had this effect on everyone she met. Lena had been initially surprised that Kara seemed to be known and liked around town, but now, she wasn't. Now, she knew—not even stubborn, obdurate Lena herself could contain herself in the face of the force that was Kara's smile, and the pull of Kara's kind eyes. She would not be surprised if she wasn't Kara's first helper to have these thoughts, despite the slashing flicker that idea lit in her stomach at the thought.

"So, how do you like them?" Kara asked from the driver's seat, and Lena stirred from her train of thought.

"Who?" she questioned, confused.

"Nia and J'onn."

Oh, right. Maybe Lena was a bit too distracted thinking about a certain someone to her right. "I think they're lovely. I can tell they really care about you and cherish you as a friend." It was the honest truth.

Kara just smiled, throwing Lena a look. "I rather meant how you feel about them. I know they're good friends." Kara's expression told Lena 'I can look out for myself, silly', but her eyes weren't filled with amusement but endearment.

"Hm." Lena took a moment to actually think, then. "I enjoyed talking with them, despite them being strangers. They treated me like a human being, and it felt—" she halted for only a moment, "—nice."

Kara chuckled. "Of course they did. Why wouldn't they?"

And just like that, Lena was reminded that she once again had said a bit too much. "I suppose I'm used to something else," Lena treaded carefully. Her head fell, and with it her spirit.

"Oh," Kara breathed next to her, and the sound was so gentle and raw, a broken breath barely audible over the thrum of rain, that Lena's eyes started stinging. "I'm so sorry," Kara said, her tone suggesting that she herself knew how Lena felt, knew the pain and torment, and wished nothing but to take that feeling away from her. "You don't deserve that."

Lena sighed, because she wouldn't argue with Kara about what she did and didn't deserve. There was a voice inside her calling for the same justice as Kara, but Lena knew that Kara knew too little about her and the things she had been wrapped up in. She didn't believe herself to be a bad person, but Lena knew she didn't deserve to be called—or considered—a good person either.

"I— don't know. Maybe."

"Lena." Kara's voice was steady, pushing. "I know I don't know you, but I know you deserve to be treated like a human being."

Lena looked up and over, her eyes tracing the curve of Kara's nose and the flick of her lashes. "Thank you," she just said.

They drove on over the wet asphalt, the rain slowly coming to a stop somewhere between the third and the fourth town they passed through, and Lena listened to the radio intently to drown her thoughts out. Her eyes were still hopping over the trees and bushes on the side of the road, a beautiful house coming into view every now and then. The clouds parted slightly and let the women have a peak at the blue sky behind.

Cars, for Lena, had always been a method of private, direct and fast transportation. Useful, but never comfortable or connected to good emotions. Cars meant meetings, cars meant work, cars meant getting to a new place with new expectations to live up to. It was worse that Lena never drove herself, always chauffeured, because the joy of it may have dimmed the dawn of arrival.

Now, Lena sat in a car driven by a free woman, with no destination. And finally, she felt okay with it. She knew Kara would show her around—maybe they'd stop by a nice place and she could take a picture to send to Sam—and at the end of their day, Kara would pull into their driveway and she would be home.

And Kara actually did so.

The road they drove down became slimmer and slimmer until Lena feared they'd get stuck between the hedges on the sides, and when the side mirror strafed the twigs on Kara's side, the road opened into a wide, beautiful shot of a dark lake.

"Oh," Lena breathed, and she could feel Kara's smile flicking towards her. "This is beautiful."

The road went on for another 50 meters or so before a hedge and the start of woods blocked the cars way. Kara pulled over to the little wall that stopped the road from falling into the lake, and turned the car off.

"This is one of my favourite places around," Kara's eyes were gleaming as she spoke, joy radiating from her. "The sun reflects on the water on the good days, and it disappears between the trees on the other side before its rays paint not only the sky but also the lake's surface."

"Can we get out of the car and take a closer look?" Lena asked.

"Yes, I was hoping you'd suggest that." Kara opened her door and Lena followed suit.

The water splished gently against the bottom of the wall. Lena had sat down next to Kara on it, ignoring that it was still damp—they wouldn't stay for long. The sky was still grey and gloomy, but it only added to the atmospheric feel of the scenery.

It reminded Lena of the horror movies she enjoyed on her couch with a glass of wine at 1 am, the way she could wrap her exhausted body in a warm blanket and have it almost feel like a hug. That same dark but comfortable feeling settled in her chest. It wasn't a perfect day, no, and it was likely to rain again soon, but Lena didn't need sunshine to feel at ease—she just needed this.

Kara chuckled softly next to her, and at the sound Lena turned, her gaze skittering over Kara's bowed head and her forward fallen hair. It looked almost brown in the dim light. "What is it?"

Kara turned to her, lips still pulled into a grin. "It's funny," Kara said softly, her eyes darting away over the water.

Lena's brows furrowed. Had she done something strange? "What's funny?"

The blonde woman looked back to her, and Lena could see a spark of something in those blue eyes. "You're the first person I've taken here." Kara glanced away fleetingly, but her eyes returned to Lena. "I didn't think I'd share this place with anyone, but now I have."

Lena swallowed around the impractical knot in her throat, her gaze staying focused on Kara. "And how do you feel? Showing me this."

Kara was silent for a moment, smile gone and not meeting Lena's eyes. Then, she looked back up. And right there, Lena could clearly see the spark she had spotted before for what it was. Fear.

"I—", Kara began, and tried again, "I don't know."

Lena was careful with her next step. The last thing she wanted was to feed the emotion looking back at her. So gently and calmly, she offered Kara her hand. Kara hesitated, her eyes darting between the long fingers reaching out before her and Lena's encouraging smile.

And then she took it, slowly.

"If you ask me not to share this place with anyone, I won't. It's your secret, and I'll keep it safe."

Kara sighed, her head turning towards the dark mirror before them. "It isn't exactly my secret. My sister found it. But she's not here most of the time, and I am, so—"

"—this is your spot." Lena finished for her, attempting to make her voice sound understanding. Kara was being incredibly vulnerable with her, for that they were only strangers.

"I don't take helpers here, and it feels wrong to bring a friend, too. I come here to think, or watch the sunset, or just—" Kara turned from the view, her eyes finding back to Lena. "I'm not sure why I brought you," she admitted honestly.

Lena nodded softly, her lips curving back into an encouraging smile. She let her thumb draw gently over the soft skin of Kara's hand. "Thank you for bringing me. I'm lucky to be here and share this view with you."

Kara laughed at that, her smile reaching her eyes and mixing with the distant longing in them. Lena wanted to dive deeper into a conversation that could lighten the burdens Kara carried—she had seen them now, and she would not forget—but she knew this wasn't the time or place. They were too much of strangers, and trust needed to be built, first.

Kara drove them home in time for dinner—at least for the animals.

Gertrude and Siglinde were extra grumpy when Lena patted them down, both not wanting to stand still. Nevertheless, the work with them felt calming, coming back to the animals almost being a treat rather than a task. Lena had gotten used to the schedule more than she thought.

They finished up and switched out the waterproof rugs for the horses before letting everyone back out. Maya was waiting for them by the back door.

"Would you like to continue our ride?" Kara asked as they peeled from their waterproof clothes. "I thought I could take you to the place I mentioned where the sunset is really nice."

Lena didn't have to contemplate that. "Yes, actually I really would."

And so after a short shower and a swap of clothes—more comfortable ones because Lena knew she'd be enjoying a relaxing night drive with Kara—she met the slightly taller woman by the bottom of the winding stairs.

"Second trip of the day, here we come," Kara said excitedly, her arm swinging in a goofy motion. She's such a dork.

"Lead the way," Lena responded, winking at Kara for good measure.

Lena swore she saw Kara's cheeks redden slightly before the woman turned around.

Lena was relaxed during the drive, her comfortable clothes—an oversized sweater and a pair of sweatpants—truly being a good choice. The sky had cleared only slightly, still dark for that the sun would still be up for a few hours.

She let her gaze drag over to Kara, no purpose to their search but to admire. Kara didn't turn, but there was a fluttering feeling in Lena's stomach—a hunch that Kara was well aware she was being looked at. Lena didn't let that stop her.

She had met many beautiful women in her life—that wasn't why she was staring. Lena had her fair share—if not too much—of breathtaking women on their knees for her. Despite being hated by the general public, Lena had met enough people that had worshipped her in ways others could only dream of. She has gone to bed with gorgeous women, their bodies and voices all too addicting.

And yet, every time, she was left with that same clawing hole in her chest when it ended. Lena didn't feel unlovable—she felt alone. Her whole life, Lena had lived in a shadow, until that shadow turned her world upside down, leaving her with nothing but emptiness.

And Lena knew she had Sam, and she knew there were people who knew her true face, but friendship and comradery didn't fill that aching hole beneath her ribs.

And Lena had given up her search to find something to soothe it, months before she got on that plane. Yet, here she was, unapologetically staring at someone that should mean nothing to her and wondering where that gaping feeling in her chest had gone.

So Lena wasn't staring because Kara was beautiful—even though it may as well have been her reason, considering those soft eyes and sculptured shoulders—no, she was staring because something about Kara was making her feel weightless.

And Lena needed to get behind it fast because it was getting out of control.

Kara slowed the car as they passed a few houses that stood closer together—nothing that could be considered a village, but not the usual lonesome architecture Lena had been witnessing—and only when the car turned up a gravel yard did Lena realise Kara was planning to stop here.

"This doesn't look like the view you promised," Lena said, her eyebrow raised questioningly. Kara turned to her with a giddy but nervous smile, a flush to her cheeks. "Where are you taking me?"

"This isn't the sunset view I promised, but only because we still have time until the sunset," Kara defended. "This is a really good—my favourite, if that matters—restaurant, though." Kara grinned at Lena with a crooked smile. "Dinner's on me."

"Kara—"

"No, no protesting. I didn't cook because I wanted to get us somewhere nice for once. It's not grand," Kara promised, "but it's my kind of thing and I—" she halted, her gaze averting. "I want to share this with you."

Lena sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Then let me at least pay—"

"Don't even think about it," Kara warned, her eyes giving Lena a grim look of disapproval, "you've been helping me the whole week, I'm paying for the food."

Looking at Kara for a moment then, her arms crossed and her brows all scrunched together, Lena realised that Kara looked adorable, despite her attempt at intimidation.

"Okay," Lena said, slowly. "Only this time, though."

They slipped out of the car and made their way over the gravel towards the entrance of the house Kara had parked in front of. As Lena took a look around, she noticed two other cars parked in the drive. She also noticed that she was walking closer to Kara than they had a week ago, and it left a flutter in her chest.

The door to the restaurant was wooden and heavy, and Lena struggled for a moment before Kara stepped in, her lean arm pushing against the heavy piece near Lena's head to help her. Lena looked up into a soft smile and gleaming blue eyes.

"There you go, m'lady," Kara said jokingly, and Lena turned and ducked under Kara's arm into the place before the taller woman could notice the blush creeping to her cheeks.

Kara was so annoyingly charming.

Lena took a deep breath before taking in the place they had stepped into, Kara now right behind her. It was a cozy space, dimly lit and mostly filled with ligneous architecture. Across the room, a long bar table looked back at them. There was a fire place—more a fire pit, really—to their left, and tables and chairs stood all around the room, a rustical whisper deep inside the materials of everything. It looked raw, handmade and crafted.

And Lena could totally see the vision, or why Kara liked it.

"Follow me, I know the best place to sit." Kara strode ahead, brushing past Lena with a gentle touch to her elbow that was gone before Lena could register that it happened.

And so Lena trotted after her, sliding into the corner bench next to Kara of the table that the blonde had apparently carefully selected. They could see across the whole room from their spot, and even take a peak behind the bar counter. Far enough from the fire to not sweat in the hoodie Lena had brought—Lena had to admit, it was a good spot.

"Do you come here often then?" Lena asked curiously.

"From time to time." Kara shrugged. "A very nice person works here, I'm sure you'll like her."

"I'm not sure she'll like me," Lena responded, suddenly feeling out of place. "Considering I'm dressed in this hoodie."

"Oh, don't worry,” Kara waved her off, "people go out in hoodies all the time, it's normal."

"It— is?" Lena furrowed her brows in confusion.

"Yeah, totally. Where do you live where that's not normal?"

To that, Lena had nothing good to respond. She shrugged, "I'm used to something else."

Kara just smiled, her gaze searching Lena's with that same hint of interest. She could feel that Kara wanted to know more.

Before Kara could open their mouth, they were interrupted.

"Hi Kara," the woman that had crept up to their table greeted the blonde woman, "and I can tell you've brought a friend. What would you guys like to drink?"

"I'll have a lemonade, I still need to do some driving." Kara smiled at the woman standing across the table, a notepad in her hand.

Lena let her gaze drift over the table for any kind of menu, but there was nothing. She turned to find the waiter's gaze and made a decision. "Do you have red wine?" She had truly been waiting long enough to have a drink again, after her failed attempt in Galway and the busy week they've had, she had almost forgotten. But now, she wouldn't pass this opportunity.

The woman's expression shifted into an amused smile. "Indeed we do. I can tell someone has taste. We only have a small selection though."

"Hm," Lena hummed, "Any chance at getting a Merlot from Bordeaux around here?"

The waiter's brows raised into oblivion, as expected. "No ma'am," the woman laughed, "but we do have a simple Merlot, from vineyards across the country. Or I could offer you a more pricey Cabernet Sauvignon, if that's your thing. Or, we also have a Pinot Noir."

"I'll settle with the Merlot, thank you." Lena smiled politely.

The waiter scribbled something down before looking back up, her eyes finding Kara. "I'm guessing you're eating the same as always?"

Kara grinned excitedly. "You know me, M'gann."

"And you?" The waiter—M'gann—turned back to Lena.

"Oh, I— I've never been here, I don't know what there is."

"Ah, right." M'gann turned around and moved over to the bar, pulling out a menu from the stack there and returning to Lena with it. "There you go, I'll give you a moment to have a look. I'll be back with your drinks and then I'll take your order."

"Thank you, M'gann," Kara chirped, grinning as the woman stepped away.

Lena buried herself in the menu.

M'gann came back with their drinks and Lena gave her the order. The wine tasted rather bland, different from what Lena was used to at home. But it was wine nonetheless, and her favourite kind at least, so she wouldn't be complaining, especially not when Kara was paying.

Kara herself seemed happy with the lemonade, M'gann having served it to her with a glass straw that her soft pink lips were curling around enthrallingly when Lena looked over. Immaculate timing, Lena.

She hid the blush behind another sip of wine and waited until Kara let off her own drink before she engaged with the blonde again. "So this is another friend, I'm guessing?"

"It is," Kara beamed, "she's actually J'onn's fiancé, if you care about that. That's how I got to know her, really. J'onn has always been a nice face in town, and a good friend too. Eventually, he asked whether it would be okay to bring his girlfriend to game night, and of course we agreed." Kara was explaining with excitement hovering like static in the air around her, pulling anyone in with her gaze and enrapturing smile, even if it was just Lena listening to her. "She was really nice from the beginning on, and when we found out that she owns this pub, we made it a thing to come here every once in a while together for a night out and good talk. M'gann is lovely once you get to know her, but she can seem dismissive at first. Don't let it scare you, she's just being cautious."

Lena knew that all too well. She was cautious, too. At least she had been all her life. Looking back at it, she had no idea why she wasn't nearly as cautious with Kara. Somehow her instincts had turned off at the sight of a shredded goofball. She should really be worried about it, but as soon as that thought surfaced, she caught a glimpse of Kara's smile, and the idea vanished.

Maybe it was just her brain relying on Sam's judgement, as Lena's best friend had done a thorough background check on the woman to Lena's right—maybe invading her privacy in the process too.

The food was good. It tasted homemade and filled Lena's surprisingly empty belly with warm deliciousness. Lena sighed contently, and Kara chuckled.

"That's such a cute thing you do."

"What is?" Lena raised a brow.

"Those little sighs," Kara said, immediately followed by a demonstration of the exact noise Lena had made seconds prior.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," Kara laughed, her eyes squeezing in the process, "I just told you it's adorable."

Kara leaned over then, her elbow bumping gently against Lena's side in a playful manner. Lena grinned back, not sure how to feel about the declaration. In the waft of Kara's motion, Lena caught Kara's scent, a strange combination that shouldn't work but did—orange and roasted coffee beans.

Of all the things Lena thought Kara smelled of, she'd have never considered something like coffee—for good reason, Kara didn't drink coffee. Kara was all soft, no bark and no bite—despite how she looked—and coffee didn't fit that aesthetic at all. Coffee wasn't generally considered a soft or light smell, and mixed with orange—

Lena couldn't get enough of it. Coffee was her thing. Why the fuck did Kara have to smell of it? She was so captivated it made her angry, her fingers tickling with that urge to grasp or fumble again. Her whole body felt weirdly loaded and tense, leaning closer to Kara than necessary. She was so pathetic.

Lena sipped more of her wine, the taste working against the traces of Kara's scent and bringing her brain back on task. It also left a familiar hum in the back of her throat that made a slow path down into her stomach, settling with the food there—something Lena was all the more used to.

They ate in silence, sharing soft smiles—mostly Kara—and stolen glances—mostly Lena—during their dinner. M'gann visited their table once to check on them and otherwise tended to the other guests around the place. Through the window, Lena watched the sky darken further, the sunset being announced gently.

By the time they finished, Kara got up to pay while Lena settled deeper into the backrest of the bench, her wine resting in her right hand. It was nice enough wine, despite not being her favourite, so she wouldn't complain.

Kara came back, a smile in her gaze as she gestured her head towards the door. Lena nodded, finishing her glass and gathering her things. Kara held the door for her when they left the restaurant, and as the door fell shut behind them, the cool late spring breeze curled around their bodies. Lena steered for the car, Kara audibly right behind her.

They still had a sunset to see.